Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship Flight 7 explodes during re-entry (video)
On Thursday, 16 January 2025, SpaceX conducted the seventh test flight of the Starship rocket, during which an accident occurred.
Here's What We Know
After successful separation of the first stage, known as Super Heavy, at the Starbase launch pad, the upper part of the rocket, called the Ship, exploded as it ascended over the Atlantic Ocean
Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed! ✨
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 16 January 2025
pic.twitter.com/nn3PiP8XwG
The incident occurred about 8.5 minutes after launch, when the rocket reached an altitude of 90 miles (about 145 km) and a speed of 13,245 miles per hour (21,300 km/h). The explosion was accompanied by bright flashes and luminous debris falling from the rocket, which was observed by residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During the broadcast, SpaceX spokesman Dan Hout said that during the ascent, the engines were shut down and contact with the Ship was lost. The company noted that it will continue to analyse the test data to determine the cause of the explosion.
Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/aq91TloYzY
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) 16 January 2025
Despite the loss of the upper part of the rocket, the test can be considered partially successful. The first stage of the Super Heavy successfully returned to the launch pad, where it was captured by mechanical arms on the Starbase launch tower.
After the incident, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to pilots about possible debris in certain areas, which could affect air traffic.
The test flight was part of SpaceX's efforts to develop a reusable space system capable of carrying cargo and astronauts to Mars. Despite this incident, the company will continue to work on improving the Starship for future missions.
