On Thursday, SpaceX's latest Starship prototype experienced a catastrophic failure in space, eight minutes after launching from South Texas. The spacecraft, which was carrying mock satellites as its test payload, lost communication with SpaceX mission control, signaling an anomaly in its upper stage. This led to a total loss of the spacecraft, marking a significant setback for the company's Mars ambitions.

The failure had an unexpected impact on air traffic. At least 20 commercial flights were forced to alter their course or were grounded to avoid potential falling debris, particularly over the Gulf of Mexico. Miami International Airport experienced disruptions, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently assessing the incident.

This test marked the seventh Starship mission since 2023, continuing SpaceX's aggressive development approach, which includes testing prototypes to their limits. Although the failure was significant, the company's Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launchpad as planned. The test was part of SpaceX's broader effort to create a fully reusable rocket capable of ferrying cargo and humans to Mars and deploying satellites into orbit.

Despite the failure, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a lighthearted message, acknowledging that while success is uncertain, entertainment is guaranteed. The company remains focused on its long-term goal of Mars exploration, with future tests planned to push the limits of Starship development further.