SpaceX conducted the eighth test flight of its prized Starship rocket from its South Texas launch facility on Thursday and similar to its January mission, crews lost control with the spacecraft minutes after launch.
BOCA CHICA, Texas – SpaceX conducted the eighth test flight of its prized Starship rocket from its South Texas launch facility on Thursday, but similar to its January mission, the launch ended in failure, sending debris raining down over the southwest Atlantic.
The launch occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time, with the Super Heavy booster successfully landing back at the Orbital Launch and Integration Tower approximately 10 minutes after liftoff.
Concerns raised over weather and hardware did not appear to be issues during Thursday’s attempt, allowing for what seemed to be a picture-perfect launch until apparent engine issues started moments later.
During the previous test flight in January, the upper stage of the more than 400-foot-tall rocket disintegrated over the southwest Atlantic, sending debris raining down over the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Similarly, on Thursday, debris was reportedly spotted in the skies from Florida and the Bahamas through the Caribbean.
SpaceX debris over the Bahamas on March 6, 2025.
(FOX Weather)
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SpaceX said they were in communication with the FAA over any needed flight diversions, but there were no immediate reports of issues during the moments after contact was lost with the Starship.
Dozens of flights appeared to have been diverted and airports from Orlando through West Palm and Miami reported flight delays associated with the event.
The Starship spacecraft is being developed with the long-term goal of carrying astronauts to the Moon and potentially Mars, though SpaceX has not publicly disclosed a timeline for when the rocket will be approved for human space travel.
Several previous test flights have encountered challenges, leading to uncertainty surrounding the objectives of NASA’s Artemis program.
SpaceX Starship launch attempt on 3/6/2025
(SpaceX / FOX Weather)
The Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2027, marking the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The first Artemis mission was launched in November 2022 but involved a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, not a rocket made by SpaceX.
The next mission, Artemis II, is expected to be a crewed flight but, again, will not involve SpaceX’s Starship.
The ninth test flight could take place as soon as April, but a potentially lengthy FAA investigation will likely derail any immediate launch attempt.
SpaceX debris over the Bahamas on March 6, 2025.
(@GeneDoctorB / X / FOX Weather)