American spacecraft disintegrates in 'meteor shower' of fragments
SpaceX's Starship rocket met with an explosion during a test flight, leading to the spacecraft's destruction, as confirmed by company representatives. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
SpaceX’s Starship rocket experienced a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" during its latest test flight, leading to the loss of the spacecraft, as confirmed by company representatives. Observers captured dramatic footage of the rocket breaking apart and burning during descent, resembling a stunning meteor shower.
The test, carried out on Thursday afternoon at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, aimed to demonstrate the rocket's capabilities, including its ability to carry ten dummy satellites into orbit.
While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch pad and was caught by the launch tower's mechanical arms—a feat previously achieved only once—the Starship spacecraft faced engine shutdowns during its ascent.
Communication with the spacecraft was lost roughly eight and a half minutes into the flight, resulting in the incident described by the company as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly."
“It was great to see a booster come down, but we are obviously bummed out about the ship,” stated SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot regarding the outcome. “It’s a flight test. It’s an experimental vehicle.”
Elon Musk shared one of the videos from the flight on social media but has not confirmed whether it was his rocket responsible for the display, nor has he commented on the incident itself.
The setback occurs amid a competitive landscape in the private space sector. On the same day, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. While the rocket's upper stage achieved orbit, the first-stage booster failed to land on a recovery ship, resulting in its destruction.
At 400 feet, SpaceX’s Starship stands as the largest and most powerful rocket in the world. The company plans to utilize Starship for deploying Starlink satellites and eventually for transporting crews to the Moon and Mars.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The test, carried out on Thursday afternoon at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, aimed to demonstrate the rocket's capabilities, including its ability to carry ten dummy satellites into orbit.
While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch pad and was caught by the launch tower's mechanical arms—a feat previously achieved only once—the Starship spacecraft faced engine shutdowns during its ascent.
Communication with the spacecraft was lost roughly eight and a half minutes into the flight, resulting in the incident described by the company as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly."
“It was great to see a booster come down, but we are obviously bummed out about the ship,” stated SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot regarding the outcome. “It’s a flight test. It’s an experimental vehicle.”
Elon Musk shared one of the videos from the flight on social media but has not confirmed whether it was his rocket responsible for the display, nor has he commented on the incident itself.
The setback occurs amid a competitive landscape in the private space sector. On the same day, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. While the rocket's upper stage achieved orbit, the first-stage booster failed to land on a recovery ship, resulting in its destruction.
At 400 feet, SpaceX’s Starship stands as the largest and most powerful rocket in the world. The company plans to utilize Starship for deploying Starlink satellites and eventually for transporting crews to the Moon and Mars.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
