Musk's SpaceX rocket explodes again after reaching space for first time - recap

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A tense day for tech mogul Elon Musk as another SpaceX test launch ends in an explosion.

Today was the second test flight and it lasted eight or so minutes, about twice as long as the first test in April, which also ended in an explosion. Today SpaceX's Starship went further and higher than the maiden launch in April, but some of the technical problems persisted, including contact being lost with the upper stage of the ship eight minutes in and the booster exploding.

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A difficult day for Elon Musk (AFP via Getty Images)

The moment the SpaceX Starship exploded

Elon Musk's SpaceX tried once again to launch its new mega-rocket, Starship, for a test flight but it dramatically exploded after reaching space for the first time.

The rocketship reached space following lift-off from south Texas on Saturday morning before communication was suddenly lost. The Starship successfully separated from the Super Heavy booster shortly after taking off but problems soon arose.

The Super Heavy booster unexpectedly blew up into an explosion and disassembled into the air. Footage captured the dramatic moment the booster exploded, with SpaceX saying on its livestream moments later that it had lost contact with Starship. After a while the company confirmed it was forced to trigger Starship's self-destruct feature over the Gulf of Mexico.

The Starship exploded after reaching space on Saturday morning

Elon Musk and SpaceX crews watched and applauded as the mission unfolded

SpaceX founder Elon Musk watched from behind launch controllers at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border, near Boca Chica Beach. At company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, employees cheered as Starship finally soared at daybreak. The room grew quiet once it was clear that the spaceship had been destroyed and crashed into the gulf. The booster also ended up in the gulf.

NASA chief congratulates SpaceX crews

Bill Nelson, NASA administrator said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Congrats to the teams who made progress on today’s flight test. Spaceflight is a bold adventure demanding a can-do spirit and daring innovation. Today’s test is an opportunity to learn—then fly again. Together @NASA and @SpaceX will return humanity to the Moon, Mars & beyond."

Congrats to the teams who made progress on today’s flight test.

Spaceflight is a bold adventure demanding a can-do spirit and daring innovation. Today’s test is an opportunity to learn—then fly again.

Together @NASA and @SpaceX will return humanity to the Moon, Mars & beyond. https://t.co/QGjwr45KM1

— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) November 18, 2023

SpaceX says 'success comes from what we learn'

After the operation was wrapped up, SpaceX wrote on Twitter congratulating the teams involved. The company said: "Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting second integrated flight test of Starship!

Scientists to launch brand new solar panels into space to solve energy crisis

"Starship successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation.

"The booster experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation while Starship's engines fired for several minutes on its way to space."

They added: "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary."

Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting second integrated flight test of Starship!

Starship successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation pic.twitter.com/JnCvLAJXPi

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

SpaceX brands the mission a 'success' despite explosions

Despite the explosions of both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship subsequently, SpaceX has branded the operation successful as it went on as planned for much longer than the first attempt back in April.

John Insprucker, SpaceX's principal integration engineer, said on the company’s webcast: "We have lost the data from the second stage ... what we do believe right now is that the Automated Flight Termination System on the second stage appears to have triggered very late in the burn."

SpaceX quality engineering manager Kate Tice added: "An incredibly successful day, even though we did have a ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ both of the Super Heavy booster and the ship."

Mission terminated

SpaceX launched its mega-rocket Starship but lost the booster and then the spacecraft minutes into the test flight.

The booster sent the rocketship toward space, but communication was lost eight minutes after liftoff from South Texas and SpaceX declared that the vehicle had failed.

The trouble cropped up as the ship’s engines were almost done firing to put it on an around-the-world path. Minutes earlier, the booster exploded, but not until its job was done, putting the ship on a course toward space.

The company confirmed on its livestream that it was forced to trigger Starship's "flight termination system" — which is essentially a self-destruct feature that SpaceX engaged to prevent the Starship from traveling off course.

Starship explodes

SpaceX has said that it was forced to trigger Starship's self-destruct feature after the crews lost contact with the rocket.

SpaceX lost contact with Starship

SpaceX was unable to receive data from Starship's second stage as it entered the coast phase.

This means the spacecraft "wouldn't be able to come back in an hour or so and possibly get ready for reentry," according to the SpaceX live stream.

Super Heavy booster explodes

The separation between the Starship and the Super Heavy booster was successful and the Starship is continuing its flight as scheduled. However, the Super Heavy booster unexpectedly blew up into an explosion and disassembled after separation.

Applaud as separation is successful

Starship is continuing its flight with its engines on full ignition, however, the Super Heavy booster has disassembled after separation.

Starship flies!

Launch begins

20-minute launch window starts

A 20-minute launch window that SpaceX has been given to attempt the launch has begun.

People cheer as launch imminent

Stunning footage from the launch scene

Watch LIVE as Elon Musk's SpaceX attempts to launch Starship rocket 7 months after explosion

SpaceX broadcast kicks off

The official broadcast from SpaceX which will show as the launch unfolds has begun and thousands of viewers have already tuned in. Watch live here:

Starship is being refuelled ahead of launch

The Super Heavy booster has been loaded with all the necessary propellant for takeoff. SpaceX is now preparing the Starship spacecraft, which sits atop the booster. The rocket is fueled by liquid methane and superchilled liquid oxygen, known as "LOX," which acts as the oxidizer. These fuels are pumped into the rocket from nearby tanks.

Propellant load of Starship’s upper stage is now underway

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

Starship compared with other rockets

Starship is a fully reusable spacecraft and rocket system designed for a variety of missions, including crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as commercial satellite launches.

Below is a comparison of Starship with other rockets:

Falcon 9 (SpaceX):

Reusability: Both Falcon 9 and Starship are designed with reusability in mind. However, Starship is intended to be fully reusable, including the second stage, whereas Falcon 9's second stage is not currently reusable.

Payload Capacity: Starship has a significantly higher payload capacity compared to Falcon 9. Starship is designed to carry a payload of over 100 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), while Falcon 9 has a payload capacity of around 22 metric tons to LEO.

Space Launch System (SLS - NASA):

Purpose: SLS is designed for deep space exploration, particularly for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. Starship shares a similar goal but is being developed by a private company (SpaceX) rather than a government agency.

Reusability: Starship is designed to be fully reusable, which can significantly reduce the cost of launches. SLS, on the other hand, is not reusable.

Blue Origin's New Glenn:

Payload Capacity: New Glenn is designed to have a payload capacity of around 45 metric tons to LEO, which is less than Starship's capacity. Starship is one of the most powerful rockets ever proposed.

Reusability: Both Starship and New Glenn are designed with reusability in mind. New Glenn's first stage is intended to be reusable.

Ariane 6 (Arianespace):

Reusability: Ariane 6 is not designed with reusability as a primary focus, unlike Starship. The cost-effectiveness and potential for frequent launches are enhanced by reusable rocket components.

Delta IV Heavy (ULA):

Payload Capacity: Delta IV Heavy has a payload capacity of around 29 metric tons to LEO, which is less than Starship's capacity.

Reusability: Delta IV Heavy is not reusable, whereas Starship is designed for full reusability.

SpaceX says 'all systems are ready' for launch

SpaceX has declared its readiness for today's Starship launch. In a post on Twitter, the company said that "all systems and weather are go for the second integrated flight test of Starship".

All systems and weather are go for the second integrated flight test of Starship. Today's webcast will go live ~35 minutes ahead of liftoff → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/NHKUwGYYkY

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

New photo of Starship

SpaceX has shared a new photo of Starship ready for launch on the Starbase site, located at Boca Chica, Texas.

Starship and Super Heavy are ready at the launch pad in Starbase, Texas. Targeting Saturday, November 18 for Starship’s second integrated flight test → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/WZeO1j7qFx

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 17, 2023

Why did the previous Starship launch fail?

In April, SpaceX made its initial attempt to launch the Starship along with its Super Heavy booster. However, the test flight encountered significant issues. It became evident that not all of the Super Heavy's engines were functioning as intended, causing the rocket to lift off at an almost horizontal angle.

As the rocket ascended over the Gulf of Mexico, it started tumbling tail-over-head, prompting SpaceX to activate the self-destruct mechanism. This measure was taken to ensure that the rocket wouldn't pose any threat. Additionally, the force exerted by the rocket during liftoff resulted in severe damage to the launchpad, necessitating SpaceX to reconstruct it with the aim of better withstanding the powerful thrust generated by Super Heavy's 33 engines.

Despite the setback, SpaceX portrayed the mission as a valuable learning opportunity. The company has a history of embracing explosive setbacks in its rocket development endeavors, recognizing them as a means to expedite the learning process compared to relying solely on ground tests.

Today's launch is this year's 84th

If the Starship launch today is successful, it will mark the 84th time that SpaceX has sent a rocket into orbit.

Most orbital launches in 2023 have been with reused Falcon 9 rockets, with today’s effort marking only the fifth time a new rocket has been used. It will also be the first time ever that SpaceX has succeeded in sending its Starship rocket into orbit, as well as the biggest rocket in history to achieve the feat.

Why was the Starship launch delayed

The second test launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket was originally targeted for Friday, November 17, in the morning but has been postponed. Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, announced on November 16 that the delay is due to the need to replace a grid fin actuator on the Super Heavy first stage.

Grid fins are structures on Starship that aid in steering the booster during its descent to Earth. Musk wrote on Thursday: "We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday."

The new launch schedule has been set for Saturday, with liftoff expected to occur within a 20-minute window starting at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT; 7 a.m. local Texas time).

Where to watch the Starship launch broadcast

SpaceX has released its official broadcast page, which is scheduled to go live at 7:30am EST (1230 GMT) today.

Stunning footage from SpaceX's Starbase site

SpaceX has released incredible footage of its Starbase site in South Texas ahead of the Starship launch.

Click to watch the video below:

Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/qRKv9ugWsR

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 11, 2023

What to expect during the launch

The webcast for SpaceX's upcoming Starship launch is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. EST (1230 GMT). The launch involves the Super Heavy first stage, equipped with 33 Raptor engines, and the Starship upper stage, which has six engines. Ten minutes before liftoff, a water deluge system beneath Starbase's orbital launch mount will be activated to mitigate the powerful forces generated by the 33 Raptors on the Super Heavy first stage. This system, a reinforced steel plate that sprays water, aims to protect the launch mount and surrounding infrastructure.

The launch sequence includes chilling the 39 Raptor engines about 10 minutes before ignition. Ten seconds before liftoff, a water deluge system will be activated beneath the launch mount to minimize potential damage.

The primary goals of this launch align with a previous test flight on April 20. The plan is to send the upper stage partway around Earth, with the Super Heavy first stage splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico approximately seven minutes after liftoff. The Starship upper stage will continue upward and eastward, reaching a top speed close to orbital velocity (around 17,000 mph or 27,400 kph). However, instead of completing a full circuit of Earth, it is set to land in the Pacific near Hawaii about 90 minutes after liftoff.

The separation of the two stages is planned to occur two minutes and 41 seconds after liftoff, utilizing a "hot staging" approach where the upper stage engines start firing shortly before separation. This differs from the first launch, which employed a traditional staging strategy. The overall mission aims to test and demonstrate the capabilities of the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster.

Second test launch for 'Starship' scheduled for early Saturday morning

The historic second launch of "Starship" is set to occur at approximately 8am ET (1pm GMT) on Saturday morning, one day later than originally planned, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said.

It was pushed back due to a dire need to "replace a grid fin actuator," the science mogul posted to his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

On Saturday morning just after 2am ET (7am GMT), Musk tweeted: "Getting back to productive matters, Starship flight 2 launches in ~6 hours!!"

It seems the scheduled flight will carry on as intended. Musk was given authorisation for the second test flight on Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which deemed the operation safe, including environmentally, which was a great concern after the fallout from the failed test in April that saw "Starship" explode over the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX gets ready for second test flight after horrific failure of first mission

As SpaceX and its owner, Elon Musk, get ready to launch "Starship" once more, they are haunted by the riveting failure of the first test flight back in April that saw the entire 394-foot (120-metre) mega-rocket explode in midair over the Gulf of Mexico.

Multiple engines on the booster, which contained 33 total, failed to fire as the rocket rose higher and higher into the sky toward its orbit altitude.

As throngs of people watched from an island miles away from the launch site, cheering the rocket on, they looked on in awe as it began to slowly fall, then tumble out of the sky, rocketing (quite literally) toward the waters below.

(SPACEX/AFP via Getty Images)

The machine then self-destructed, as it was designed to do, sending debris flying into the ocean, impacting marine life. The rocket had only reached 24 miles (39km) before it tipped over. It had been going about 1,300 mph (2,100km/h) at that point.

Musk had previously stated that there would be about a 50-50 chance the rocket launch would be a failure, and John Insprucker, a commenter on the launch live stream, said that "you never know exactly what's going to happen." He said it ended up being "a rather spectacular end," making the failed test worth it.

Now, Musk and his team will try again.