First SpaceX Starship Launch (with explosion)

After years of testing and development, SpaceX finally launched the largest rocket ever built. Four minutes into flight, SpaceX activated the flight termination system on Starship causing the vehicle to explode and breakup. The debris fell into the ocean shortly after.

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L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today.

#bocachica #starship #booster7 #ship24 #superheavy #spacexrocket #rocketlaunch #launchfailure #spacex

[ukar]

Michael's tracking software is excellent. RIP to the nearby cameras and everything that got damaged by the blast. The crater under the OLM is huge!

[icyknightmare]

Completely insane to see that much power and stability before the failed separation with up to 6 engines out. Plus the fact that it didn't break apart when it started flipping.

[derbness]

That engine popping sound is BRUTAL. Can only Imagine how it felt in person

[Fabian]

Crazy that the ship and booster didn't fall apart when it started spinning out of control.

[wyattb]

Was an exciting thing to witness. Can’t wait for the next one in probably 4 months! I’m genuinely shocked how the booster and ship still were intact on the way down. Whatever happened, engineers are on it. Go SpaceX!

[Farnsworth]

The stability needed to do a full flip is impressive. If only separation had occurred.

[Cajundaddydave]

The launch was a complete success, a nice aerobatic display at the stage separation point and a fireworks show at the end. A good day on the test range.

[Stabruder]

This was clearly my highlight in 2023. Just no words. Succsessful launch, impressive engineering, if just I could have wittnessed it in person...
GG To everyone involved, I cant wait to see the next attempt.
This is history right there! <3

[koszuta]

"Is this legal!" 😂😂😂 I love Adrian

[Tresla]

The view of (almost) all of the engines, lit up from the bottom, is like something out of a sci-fi movie. Absolutely incredible!

[mutleyeng]

The stack did amazing considering how much damage it must have sustained. I think Starship concept was proven today - orbital launch pad not so much. But yes i know its just a test site

[mikesbasement]

As a small child I was fortunate to be able to witness the final launch of the Saturn V rocket. The sense of awe I felt left me with a lifelong interest in space. This launch gave me the same feeling. Thanks for being there and letting us watch such an amazing event!

[bryanbailey]

This was a launch success! First time the booster flew and it did fantastic!

[martehoudesheldt]

it is amazing that the exhaust is so clear that you can see each engine .

[shoutykat]

Looks like it'd lost about 6 engines really early on so it might have been fighting assymetric thrust. One of the most Kerbal rocket launches I've ever seen. Always check your staging XD

[kenp]

“Did it just do a Kerbal?” Comment made me laugh, exactly my thought when I saw it spinning wildly

[FuzzWoof]

The fact it held together during all those flips is really quite stunning, most other rockets would have just ripped themselves apart.

[chrissheppard]

Shiny new NSF IFT Launch Patch dropped thru my letterbox at exactly T minus 7 minutes... awesome coincidence... Starship fullstack launch was the best 4 minutes of livestream ever... Congrats to NSF team... RIP S24/B7 🚀 - bring on IFT 2.0 !!

[NeilABliss]

Rousing success. Dang that was spectacular!!

[jukio]

Future people whoever decides to get into that thing, will have balls of steel.