SpaceX put on a brave face about the situation, although the booster, at five flights, was a relative spring chicken compared to others in the company's fleet. The rocket biz said: "While disappointing to lose a rocket after a successful mission, the team will use the data to make Falcon even more reliable on ascent and landing."

SpaceX has blown up another Starship mega rocket on a test flight. Nearly two months since the last explosion, SpaceX launched another 403-foot Starship from Texas on Thursday, but lost contact with the spacecraft within minutes.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Sunday there’s a “lot to learn on this flight.” It will be the second of 2025 and eighth overall.