SpaceX's Starship Explodes Twice During Second Launch
Despite the explosions, key milestones were met and an investigation is underway to determine the cause before a third launch can take place.
- SpaceX's Starship exploded twice during its second launch on November 18, with both the booster and upper stage destroyed in separate incidents.
- Despite the explosions, SpaceX met some key milestones and the launch was less chaotic than the first.
- The booster exploded 56 miles above the Gulf of Mexico, possibly due to the hot-staging process placing excessive stress on it.
- The upper stage exploded after SpaceX lost contact with it, possibly due to a leak in its oxygen tank.
- SpaceX and the FAA will jointly conduct an investigation to uncover the primary cause of the mishap before a third Starship launch can take place.