SpaceX's seventh attempt to launch the world's largest spacecraft, Starship, has failed. The rocket's upper stage lost contact with Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX spokeswoman Kate Tice confirmed during the launch broadcast: "We lost the ship."

Videos posted on the social media platform X show debris falling over the Caribbean, likely from the crashed rocket. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, commented on the incident in a post on X: "Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!!"

Airlines over the Gulf of Mexico were even forced to change course to avoid falling debris.

Despite the setback, SpaceX once again successfully returned the rocket's first stage, the giant Super Heavy Booster, which had been caught by mechanical arms on the launch pad.

What went wrong?

The company's preliminary analysis indicates an oxygen and fuel leak in the rocket's upper stage. Musk assured that the problem can be quickly fixed by adding fire suppression systems and increasing ventilation holes. The next launch is scheduled for next month.

The rocket to conquer Mars

Starship is the largest rocket ever built, with a height of 123 meters. It is being developed for future missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA has already contracted SpaceX to build a version of the ship for the Artemis III program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2027.

The current setback could slow SpaceX's plans. Although the company is showing progress in test flights, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may require additional investigations before approving the next launch.

AIN reminds that the day before, Blue Origin, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, conducted the first test launch of its New Glenn rocket, which is set challenge SpaceX's program.