Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX suffered another major setback yesterday [March 6, 2025] as its Starship rocket exploded mid-flight during its eighth test launch. The incident marks the second consecutive failure for the ambitious program aimed at revolutionising space exploration and enabling human settlement on Mars.
Debris from the explosion rained down over Florida and The Bahamas, creating a dramatic spectacle but raising concerns about the reliability of the world’s most powerful rocket.
The 403-foot Starship rocket launched successfully from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas facility at 6:30 p.m. ET. While the Super Heavy booster completed its return to the launch pad as planned, the upper stage—known simply as “Ship”—encountered catastrophic engine failures shortly after reaching an altitude of nearly 140 kilometers. The rocket lost control, spinning wildly before exploding midair.
“We can observe that several engines have been lost, and the vehicle has lost its attitude control,” said SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot during the livestream.
Videos shared on social media captured flaming debris streaking across skies in southern Florida and The Bahamas. Eyewitness Stefanie Waldek described the light display as “beautiful yet silent,” reflecting on how she assured others that it was not an attack but a failed test flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily grounded flights at several major airports in Florida due to falling debris, including Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.
This incident follows a similar explosion during Starship’s seventh test flight in January 2025, which also ended in fiery debris raining down across the Caribbean. SpaceX had made modifications to Starship’s engines, flaps, and fuel systems after January’s failure but was unable to prevent another “rapid unscheduled disassembly,” as Musk’s team refers to such breakups. NASA has expressed concern as it relies on Starship for its Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade.
The back-to-back failures are a significant blow to Musk’s Mars ambitions and could delay timelines for crewed missions. SpaceX has emphasised that these test flights are opportunities for learning.
“Success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship’s reliability,” the company stated.
However, experts argue that safety enhancements must be implemented quickly to maintain confidence in the program.
The FAA has launched a mishap investigation into both incidents, which may further complicate regulatory approvals for future launches.
While SpaceX dominates headlines globally, Scotland’s burgeoning space industry is carving out its niche with smaller satellite launches. Orbex plans to launch its Prime rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport later this year—a key step in establishing Scotland as a European leader in satellite deployment.
However, setbacks like SpaceX’s explosions highlight the inherent risks of rocket development. SaxaVord itself faced an engine explosion during testing last year, delaying some plans.
Craig Clark of Space Scotland noted that smaller rockets could fill gaps left by larger players like SpaceX. “There remains a need for smaller, responsive launches,” he remarked.
As Scotland aims to generate £4 billion from its space industry by 2030, lessons from global giants like SpaceX may help mitigate risks in its own ventures.
