SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit for the First Time, Then Explodes
Starship reached orbit for the first time on Sept. 28, but an engine failure cut the mission short and the rocket exploded at sea.
Starship Flight 14 launching on Sept. 28. The rocket reached orbit for the first time, then experienced engine trouble culminating in an explosion at sea. (Image credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Starship has made it to orbit for the first time ever. But the loss of an engine during its nail-biting ascent meant SpaceX’s mission ended earlier than planned — with an explosion to boot.
The tallest and most powerful rocket ever built blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas on Monday (Sept. 28) at 8:49 a.m. ET (7:49 a.m. local time). Despite achieving the historic orbital milestone, an engine failure during the flight forced an early conclusion to the mission, with the vehicle breaking apart in a fiery explosion over the sea.