SpaceX’s Massive Rocket Explodes During Landing Attempt
SpaceX’s Starship rocket, developed by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, encountered an unexpected problem during its 15th test flight on November 13, 2026. The return of the rocket’s first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, to the launch tower was automatically aborted due to a technical issue detected during the flight. The booster was redirected toward the Gulf of Mexico but broke apart in a massive explosion shortly before reaching the water.
Launched from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, USA, Starship successfully completed stage separation following liftoff. Under normal conditions, the Super Heavy booster was expected to return to the launch tower and be caught by its giant mechanical arms. However, due to a problem during the landing sequence, the booster was redirected to an alternative landing zone. The flight termination system was subsequently activated, resulting in an explosion over the sea.
In a statement, SpaceX said that the flight control system detected an anomaly during the booster’s return, automatically aborting the attempt to land at the tower. The incident occurred approximately 6.5 minutes after liftoff.
Despite the loss of the Super Heavy booster, Starship’s upper stage continued its flight, reached Earth orbit and successfully deployed 26 Starlink satellites. As part of the test, SpaceX had aimed to recover both stages of the rocket, marking another attempt toward its goal of developing a fully reusable launch system.
