Elon Musk's SpaceX faced a significant setback as its Starship rocket exploded during its eighth test flight, sending debris plummeting back to Earth.

The incident occurred just minutes after the rocket launched from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on March 6, 2025.

According to BBC, This marks the second failed test flight for Starship this year, raising concerns about the challenges of Musk's ambitious Mars exploration program.

The 403-foot Starship, designed to carry humans to Mars and beyond, lost control approximately nine minutes into its flight.

Several engines shut down during the ascent, causing the spacecraft to spin uncontrollably before disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

SpaceX described the event as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" and confirmed that contact with the rocket was lost shortly before the explosion.

The fallout from the explosion was not limited to the skies as debris from the rocket was reported over parts of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops at multiple Florida airports, including Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, to ensure the safety of air traffic.

The Guardian reports that flights were delayed by an average of 30 to 45 minutes, causing disruptions for travellers and highlighting the risks associated with space debris.

At the time of writing this article, there were no reported injuries from the accident.

SpaceX has pledged to investigate the cause of the failure and implement measures to improve the reliability of future launches.

The Super Heavy booster, which successfully returned to the launch pad, was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing mission.

This comes just days after Elon Musk's X activity left many stunned regarding his stand over racism and police brutality.

This was after he appeared to show support for the pardon of Derek Chauvin, the police officer serving jail term for the murder of George Floyd.

Musk responded to a past by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, known for calling for the release of Chauvin.

He reacted to a video by Shapiro saying: "Something to think about," which led to a huge debate on his own social media platform.

According to Shapiro and other pro-Chauvin 'members', they argue that Floyd had pre-existing health conditions and his drug use, which could led to his death.

Musk helped Shapiro amplify his message on X, and the reactions that came out of it just show how divided many are.

However, it will be difficult for Chauvin to see freedom anytime soon as he serves both federal and state-level convictions.

Source: TUKO.co.ke