On January 16, 2025, SpaceX's Starship rocket disintegrated in space minutes after its launch from Texas, forcing airlines to reroute flights over the Gulf of Mexico.
According to SpaceX, contact with ground control was lost shortly after liftoff, leading to the upper section of the rocket breaking apart.
The disintegration occurred over the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea, with social media videos capturing fragments flying through the sky.
Elon Musk shared footage of the incident on social media, stating, "Success is not guaranteed, but fun is assured!".
Initial findings indicate an oxygen/fuel leak in the area above the engine's protective wall, generating pressure that exceeded the ventilation capacity.
This marked the seventh test flight for the world's most powerful rocket, crucial for SpaceX's future lunar missions and ultimately for Mars exploration.