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SpaceX Rocket Explodes Over Grand Turk in Fiery Accident
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded in a dramatic stream of fire and smoke over the Caribbean near Grand Turk island during a test flight, marking a setback for the ambitious aerospace company.
Preliminary investigations suggest the accident was caused by a fire triggered by leaking fuel that built up pressure above the engine firewall, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The resulting fire compromised the spacecraft, causing it to break apart mid-flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation but reported no injuries from falling debris. Video footage captured near the Turks and Caicos Islands showed flaming fragments raining down from the sky, forcing nearby flights to divert as a safety precaution.
The 400-foot Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launched from Texas on Thursday evening. While its booster successfully returned to the pad for only the second time in Starship’s history, engine failures on the spacecraft cut short the mission. Communication was lost just 8 ½ minutes into the flight.
SpaceX emphasized that the rocket remained within its designated flight corridor over the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, with debris expected to fall into the ocean. Despite the loss, Musk downplayed the incident as “barely a bump in the road,” expressing optimism for future tests, including an eighth Starship prototype already undergoing evaluation.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson acknowledged the risks, stating, “Spaceflight is not easy. That’s why these tests are so important.” NASA has partnered with SpaceX to use Starship for upcoming lunar missions under the Artemis program.
This was the seventh Starship test flight and featured a new spacecraft model. SpaceX is working toward developing a fleet capable of carrying humans to Mars, with Musk remaining steadfast in his vision for interplanetary travel.