SpaceX rocket explodes after splashdown

SpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet on a test flight that saw it eventually crash down into the Indian Ocean. The redesigned rocket took its first flight on Friday, two days after Elon Musk announced he was taking the company public. Nasa is counting on the upgraded rocket to take its astronauts to the moon, while the chief executive of SpaceX wants it to deliver humans to Mars. The spacecraft lifted off from the southern tip of Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites that were released midway through the hour-long spaceflight that stretched halfway around the world. It reached its final destination – the Indian Ocean – despite some engine trouble, before erupting in flames upon impact. That last part was not unexpected, according to SpaceX. Mr Musk called it “an epic” launch and landing. “You scored a goal for humanity,” he told his team via X. Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/23/spacex-rocket-explodes-after-splashdown/ ► Sign up to the Telegraph's free new daily newsletter, From the Editor, bringing you the latest news, features and analysis from the Telegraph newsroom: www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/from-the-editor/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain ► Get the latest headlines: www.telegraph.co.uk?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain ► Stay ahead with a Telegraph digital subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/subscription/store?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ and https://www.youtube.com/telegraph are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.