Starship spacecraft explodes during water landing after first orbital flight

SpaceX's Starship exploded while landing on water after its first orbital flight, which lasted about three hours instead of the planned ten.

During the flight, the ship successfully launched 26 Starlink Internet satellites into orbit.

MOSCOW, September 28 - RIA Novosti. SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, which was deorbited hours earlier than planned, exploded as it landed on water after its first orbital flight.

The ship successfully assumed a vertical position and began to descend into the ocean. When its engines disappeared under water, an explosion was heard, a fiery mushroom appeared above the water and fragments of the ship flew up. This was broadcast live by SpaceX on the X social network.

Starship was launched using the Super Heavy carrier from SpaceX's Starbase launch site in Boca Chica in southeast Texas. On its 14th test flight, Starship launched 26 Starlink internet satellites into orbit.