“We can confirm that we did lose the ship,” SpaceX engineer Kate Tice announced during the live stream, while spokesperson Dan Huot noted engine failures leading up to the incident.Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder, reacted with characteristic wit, sharing a video on social media and joking, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”
The video of the debris falling like fire from the sky has gone viral.
This marked only the second time in history that SpaceX successfully recaptured a booster post-launch—a feat that sent ripples of excitement through the aerospace community.
The booster’s descent culminated in a sonic boom that resonated across South Padre Island, a nearby tourist hotspot, adding to the spectacle. This achievement not only showcased SpaceX’s innovative prowess but also reiterated its commitment to reusability, a cornerstone of its mission to revolutionize space travel.
The spacecraft had reached an altitude of 90 miles and speeds of 13,200 miles per hour before telemetry data ceased, signaling the loss of the vehicle.
SpaceX framed the mission as a learning opportunity, emphasizing that the data collected from the test would enhance Starship’s reliability in future flights. “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” the company stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The launch also featured a notable milestone: one of the Super Heavy booster’s 33 engines had been reused from a prior mission, underscoring SpaceX’s advancements in sustainable space exploration.