SpaceX launched the eighth test flight of its Starship megarocket system on Thursday night, aiming to stress-test the spacecraft and achieve objectives that fell short during its previous test in January. The uncrewed mission lifted off at 5:30 p.m. CT from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas. While the company successfully captured the booster as it returned to the launch tower, the Starship spacecraft was lost. The Super Heavy rocket booster separated from the upper stage after about 2 ½ minutes of firing and landed successfully within the “chopstick” arms of SpaceX’s launch tower. However, the Starship spacecraft experienced engine failures during its suborbital trajectory, leading to a loss of contact and an explosion over the Caribbean. The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights into several airports due to falling space debris. SpaceX stated that its team immediately coordinated with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses and will review data to understand the root cause. The FAA is requiring SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle. SpaceX has made several upgrades to the spacecraft, including new heat shield tiles and a purge system designed to prevent fires. The company is also expanding Starship operations to Florida, building a new facility called Gigabay. — news from CNN
