The spacecraft’s upper stage lost on the seventh test flight

Rocket debris from a SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy booster was seen in the sky after a “quick unplanned disassembly” before part of the device successfully returned to its “chopsticks” for a second time.

The vehicle lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase test site in Boca Chica, Texas. The booster then separated about two minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff and headed back toward the Starbase, Space News reported.

SpaceX’s megarocket Starship booster returns to the launch pad during a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

“Starship experienced a rapid unplanned disassembly during its ascent,” SpaceX said in a statement. “Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand the cause. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship reliability.”