Did the SpaceX rocket explode? Why did the Starship rocket explode? During which mission did it explode?

SpaceX encountered an unexpected problem during the test flight of its Starship rocket, which was launched from the Boca Chica space base in Texas. Approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff, communication with the upper stage of the rocket was lost, and the vehicle disintegrated in mid-air. While this failure is considered a setback for the company's Starship program, SpaceX stated that such tests provide critical data for the success of future missions. Here are the details regarding the incident...

WHY DID THE STARSHIP ROCKET EXPLODE?

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated in a post-test flight statement that the failure of the Starship rocket was caused by a liquid oxygen fuel leak in the engine compartment. He explained that this leak increased the pressure in the engine compartment, compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle, which resulted in the rocket disintegrating in mid-air. Musk emphasized that such trials are a critical step toward safer and more successful launches in the future.

'SUPER HEAVY' RETURNED TO THE LAUNCH PAD

The booster portion of the rocket, “Super Heavy,” successfully returned to the launch pad as planned. This landing, performed with the help of mechanical arms, was considered one of the positive outcomes of the test and provided SpaceX engineers with significant data for their work on reusability.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAUNCH MISSION?

During the test, Starship was intended to deploy 10 dummy satellites into orbit over the Gulf of Mexico. However, this goal could not be achieved due to technical issues. This mission was designed to rehearse future operational flights and test the systems.

MUSK’S OPTIMISTIC APPROACH

Elon Musk stated after the test that work for the next flight is continuing rapidly. “Success is not always guaranteed, but we can guarantee that we will have fun in the process,” said Musk, announcing that SpaceX plans to conduct a total of 12 Starship test flights by the end of 2025. SpaceX maintains that every test is an important step toward the goal of carrying humanity to Mars.