Watch: Super Heavy rocket explodes after launching Starship into space
SpaceX's Super Heavy booster exploded upon splashdown after successfully pushing the Starship spacecraft into space during its 14th flight test on Monday, marking a crucial milestone in the company's effort to develop a fully reusable rocket.
The 124-metre-tall Starship Super Heavy rocket lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas during a 75-minute launch window, with a picture-perfect stage separation taking place minutes after liftoff.
While the Starship upper stage continued its journey towards space, the Super Heavy booster returned towards Earth and made a hard splashdown in the ocean, exploding upon touchdown.WATCH SUPER HEAVY EXPLODE ON SPLASHDOWNBooster 21 lands! pic.twitter.com/1PgY1R6LPC— NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) September 28, 2026
The explosion was part of SpaceX's planned mission profile, with the company not attempting to recover the booster during this flight.
SpaceX's Starship was expected to make its maiden orbital flight during its 14th test mission on Monday.
However, the loss of an engine on the spacecraft forced the company to deliberate if an orbit insertion should be attempted. The team finally voted in favour of reaching orbit. Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/40D8bXSkr2— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 28, 2026
Starship is central to SpaceX's long-term ambitions to make space transportation fully reusable and enable human missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA has selected a version of Starship as the lunar landing system for its Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon.
However, the spacecraft must demonstrate reliable orbital operations, in-space refuelling and repeated recovery before it can support such missions.
The 14th flight is therefore a critical engineering test, providing SpaceX with data needed to improve the vehicle's performance and prepare for future missions.
A successful orbital flight would mark a significant step towards making Starship a key vehicle for transporting cargo and eventually humans beyond Earth orbit.- Ends
