A SpaceX Starship prototype has failed in space minutes after launching from its rocket facilities in Texas, cutting short a test mission that was to include a debut attempt to deploy satellites.
SpaceX's Starship system, a heavily upgraded version standing about 37 storeys tall, had lifted off from the company's Boca Chica, Texas, launch facilities at 5.38pm on Thursday in the company's seventh test mission and first such test this year.
The Starship upper stage, two metres taller than previous versions, separated from its Super Heavy booster nearly four minutes into flight as planned. But minutes later SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot reported on a live stream that mission teams had lost contact with the ship.
Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from today's flight test to better understand root cause. — SpaceX (@SpaceX) With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today's flight will help us improve Starship's…January 16, 2025
"We did lose all communications with the ship - that is essentially telling us we had an anomaly with the upper stage," Huot said, confirming minutes later the ship was lost .
The towering Super Heavy booster, meanwhile, returned to its launch pad about seven minutes after lift-off, as planned, slowing its descent from space by reigniting its Raptor engines as it hooked itself on giant mechanical arms fixed to a launch tower.
The landing success was SpaceX's second across three attempts.