SpaceX Starship Explodes, Disrupts Florida Flights After Test Failures

SpaceX's Starship 8 test vehicle exploded shortly after launching from Texas on Thursday, marking its second consecutive failure this year. The rocket successfully launched but experienced a catastrophic failure around 20 seconds before engine shutdown, resulting in the loss of several engines and communication. The explosion caused debris to fall over the Atlantic Ocean, prompting the FAA to impose temporary flight restrictions at several Florida airports, which were later lifted. Witnesses described the incident as resembling fireworks, with videos shared online capturing the fiery disintegration. SpaceX stated they would conduct a thorough review of the flight data to understand the root cause of the failure. Despite the setback, the company remains committed to improving the reliability of the Starship program.