SpaceX suffered a setback on Saturday as its mega rocket Starship exploded during a test flight, resulting in the loss of both the booster and the spacecraft. The rocketship had successfully reached space after liftoff from South Texas, but communication suddenly ceased, and it was later revealed that the ship's self-destruct system had blown it up over the Gulf of Mexico. Minutes earlier, the separated booster had also exploded over the gulf, though its purpose had already been fulfilled. The test flight lasted for approximately eight minutes, twice as long as the first test in April, which also ended in an explosion.

The Starship, standing at nearly 400 feet (121 meters), is currently the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. Its primary objective is to transport people to the moon and Mars. Despite the failure of the mission, SpaceX commentator John Insprucker highlighted the successful liftoff as a significant achievement. He mentioned that all 33 booster engines fired as intended, unlike the previous test. The booster also smoothly detached from the spacecraft, which reached an altitude of 92 miles (148 kilometers). Commentator Kate Tice expressed optimism about the data collected during the test, stating that it would contribute to future improvements.

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, observed the launch from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border, while employees at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California, cheered as the Starship took flight. However, the atmosphere grew somber when it became evident that the spacecraft had been destroyed. SpaceX had aimed for an altitude of 150 miles (240 kilometers), which would have allowed the spacecraft to orbit the Earth before descending into the Pacific near Hawaii. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that no injuries or public damage occurred but announced an investigation into the incident.

Following the failed flight in April, SpaceX made numerous improvements to both the rocket and the launch pad. The FAA approved the rocket for flight on Wednesday after ensuring that all safety and environmental concerns had been addressed. However, the FAA stated that SpaceX would not be allowed to launch another Starship until the investigation is concluded and any necessary corrections have been made.

NASA has high hopes for the Starship, relying on it to transport astronauts to the moon by the end of 2025 or shortly thereafter. The space agency awarded SpaceX a $3 billion contract to facilitate this mission, involving the transfer of astronauts from the Orion capsule to the Starship in lunar orbit before landing on the moon's surface. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson acknowledged the test's value as a learning opportunity and expressed confidence in future successes.

The Starship, towering at 34 feet (10 meters) taller than NASA's Saturn V rocket and 75 feet (23 meters) taller than NASA's Space Launch System rocket, aims to revolutionize space travel. Once proven, Elon Musk plans to utilize the fully reusable mega rockets for launching satellites into Earth's orbit, transporting equipment and people to the moon, and eventually embarking on journeys to Mars.

The recent failure of the Starship test flight underscores the challenges and risks involved in space exploration. Nevertheless, SpaceX remains determined to learn from this experience and improve the reliability of its spacecraft, holding firm to its ambition of making life multiplanetary.