SpaceX's Starship test flight ends in failure after spacecraft is destroyed

SpaceX's latest test flight of its Starship rocket ended in failure when the spacecraft was destroyed shortly after launch. The rocket, which was carrying 10 dummy satellites, launched from Boca Chica, Texas, but lost communication with ground control just 8 minutes and 30 seconds into the flight. SpaceX's communications manager confirmed that the spacecraft was lost due to an anomaly with the upper stage. The rocket's six engines appeared to shut down sequentially, and preliminary assessments suggested an oxygen/fuel leak may have caused the failure. Despite the mishap, the booster successfully returned to the launch pad and was caught by the launch tower's mechanical arms. The incident caused significant disruptions to air traffic, with flights at Miami International Airport being grounded or diverted to avoid debris. This was the seventh test flight of the Starship, which is intended for future missions, including NASA's plans to land astronauts on the moon. Elon Musk expressed disappointment over the loss of the spacecraft but noted that the data collected would be analyzed to understand the failure better.

- SpaceX's Starship rocket was destroyed during its latest test flight.

- Communication was lost with the spacecraft 8 minutes and 30 seconds after launch.

- The booster successfully returned and was caught by the launch tower.

- The incident disrupted air traffic, particularly at Miami International Airport.

- This was the seventh test flight of the Starship, which is intended for future space missions.