In brief: For the second time in two months, a SpaceX shuttle has exploded in mid-air in a stunning display of fireballs visible from the ground. Both incidents disrupted air traffic despite the company’s repeated pledges to uphold safety standards. Meanwhile, France’s space agency completed a “flawless” mission on the same day.
A SpaceX Starship craft exploded shortly after launch Thursday evening, forming a bright debris shower over Florida and the Caribbean, interrupting air traffic. The incident echoes a similar failure the company suffered in January.
SpaceX noted that an unexpected occurrence in the shuttle’s aft section caused it to lose altitude and break apart a few minutes after launch at around 6:30 pm EST. Footage of the fragments streaking through the evening sky quickly circulated on social media.
Just saw Starship 8 blow up in the Bahamas @SpaceX @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/rTMJu23oVx
– Jonathon Norcross (@NorcrossUSA) March 6, 2025
The company stressed that, due to coordination with the FAA, any debris likely fell within a designated response area. However, the agency halted air traffic in several locations throughout Florida following the explosion.
A nearly identical incident occurred in January when a Starship craft broke apart over the Caribbean, leading to emergency action from the FAA as vivid images spread across social media. SpaceX detected an aft fire several minutes after both launches.
The company reiterated its commitment to learning from the incidents despite evidence connecting them to the same flaw. The third time must be the charm, as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that the company has a third attempt planned to launch in four to six weeks.
However, SpaceX can claim partial success from the two test flights. Following both launches, its Super Heavy rocket booster – the bottom section of the craft that handles the initial launch – successfully returned to the launch pad.
Thursday’s test marks the third consecutive time SpaceX has recovered a rocket booster following its initial success in October. This achievement indicates tangible progress toward the company’s aim to recycle rocket boosters, which form the bulk of space shuttles. Reusing boosters reduces costs significantly.
A few hours before SpaceX’s failure on Thursday, Arianespace launched its Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana without incident. In cooperation with the French Defense Procurement Agency and France’s national space agency, the commercial mission launched the CSO-3 defense and observation satellite into orbit at an altitude of 800 km (497 mi).
