SpaceX Starship Explodes: Mars Mission Still on Track, Says Musk

SpaceX Starship Launch Ends in Explosion, Musk Remains Confident About Mars Mission SpaceX's ambitious Starship rocket launch from Starbase, Texas, on May 28, 2025, ended in a dramatic explosion of the booster during its descent. The incident, which occurred roughly 30 minutes into the flight, also saw engineers lose control of the Starship itself. The resulting debris field prompted the FAA to temporarily close more than 70 air traffic routes across a 1,600 nautical mile hazard area. Despite the setback, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, expressed continued optimism about the company's progress toward an uncrewed mission to Mars. "They have to launch multiple successful flights before anyone's going to put people on board," noted CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood, highlighting the challenges ahead. Musk himself, in a post on X, indicated that future Starship launches would be more frequent, aiming for intervals of only three to four weeks. Eyewitnesses on Texas beaches reported seeing the booster explode in the air, a vivid testament to the power and inherent risks of such a large-scale launch. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in space exploration, but also the relentless pursuit of innovation and the ambition to reach Mars.