SpaceX Launched Starship: The Rocket Exploded, The Ship Was Lost

SpaceX launched the Starship system for the second time from a spaceport in Texas, but immediately after the separation stage, the accelerator exploded and the signal from the ship itself disappeared.

Unlike the first test launch, during which the rocket suffered a “quick, unplanned disassembly,” the new Starship reached an altitude of 148 km when it lost communications. That is, the ship ended up in space, the boundary of which lies at an altitude of 100 km. A near-orbital speed of 24 thousand km/h was achieved. Despite the loss of communication, the launch can be considered successful. SpaceX later reported that after communication was lost, the flight control center sent a command to the device to self-destruct.

The Starship started its engines even before it was disconnected from the Super Heavy accelerator. The lower stage separated less than three minutes after liftoff and began falling into the Gulf of Mexico, but exploded in mid-air as it descended. It is also worth adding that this time all 33 Raptor engines on the first stage of the rocket fired. During the first test launch, some of the engines did not fire.

SpaceX noted that they still consider the launch a success, since the first flight was intended to collect data for future tests.