SpaceX has completed the seventh test launch of its mega-rocket Starship. The 403-meter-high apparatus successfully launched and reached stage separation. The first stage, called Super Heavy, returned to Starbase and was captured with special “sticks,” Space reports.. com.

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However, about eight minutes after launch, SpaceX lost contact with the upper stage, known as Ship.. What caused the problem is currently unknown. But about 8.5 minutes after launch, the 52-meter-tall spacecraft exploded near the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.. Residents of this region saw the result of the explosion.

Just saw the most insane #spacedebris #meteorshower right now in Turks and Caicos? @elonmusk? what is it? pic. twitter. com/a7f4MbEB8Q.

— Dean Olson (@deankolson87) January 16, 2025.

Starship Flight 7 breaking up and re-entering over Turks and Caicos pic. twitter. com/iuQ0YAy17O.

—Alex D. (@adavenport354) January 16, 2025.

“Starship encountered a rapid unplanned dismantling during engine startup. Teams will continue to analyze data from today's flight test to better understand the root cause. In a test like this, success depends on what we learn, and today's flight will help us improve the reliability of Starship,” SpaceX said in a statement on X.

" This is not uncommon when developing new missiles..

The first test launch of the ship took place in April 2023.

Then, a few minutes after launch, the ship began to rotate uncontrollably and was damaged.

The second test launch was carried out in November 2023, however, shortly after the successful separation of the stages, the ship disintegrated before reaching orbit.

The third test took place in March 2024 and was considered successful. The fourth test took place in June 2024, and on October 14, SpaceX announced that the fifth test flight of Starship successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean.