SpaceX Starship Explodes Minutes After Launch

SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes Minutes After Liftoff

The boosters of SpaceX’s Starship rocket failed to separate about 4 minutes after the launch on Thursday morning. It was then forced to self-destruct.

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The launch on Thursday was the second attempt after Monday's countdown had to be scrubbed due to a frozen valve.

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According to SpaceX, the flight reached its height of 24.2 miles (39 km) above the earth, and the explosion occurred four minutes after takeoff.

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As a part of NASA's Artemis program, Starship is designed to carry passengers to the moon and Mars. It will take 100 people on long-duration, interplanetary flights.

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Starship is so cost-effective that it can deliver 100 tons of cargo, to Mars or to any planet within the solar system for less than $50 million.

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The Space Shuttle that NASA retired in 2011, costs $1.5 billion to lift only about one-quarter of what Starship will, and only into low Earth orbit.

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Despite not going according to plan, SpaceX said it was still a successful first part of the mission, and CEO Elon Musk congratulated the team.

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