Watch: SpaceX Starship explodes, shooting glitter of debris falling across night sky
SpaceX said they were in communication with the FAA over any needed flight diversions, but there were no immediate reports of issues during the moments after contact was lost with the Starship.
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded after launch Thursday night
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded after launch Thursday night. (Courtesy: @GeneDoctorB / X)
HOG CAY, Bahamas – SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded Thursday night less than 10 minutes after its launch from Texas, showering debris over the Caribbean and western Atlantic and giving millions of skygazers across Florida and the Caribbean quite the show.
The explosion was caught on camera from a catamaran anchored off Hog Cay in the Bahamas. X user @GeneDoctorB filmed the event and the glittering debris fall that followed:
SpaceX debris over the Bahamas on March 6, 2025.
(@GeneDoctorB / X / FOX Weather)
"Incredible sight here in Bahamas," @GeneDoctorB said, noting that they took cover after the explosion.
Another incredible scene unfolded over the Bahamas.
Footage captured in the Bahamas shows the bright fiery lights of SpaceX debris falling from the sky. (Video courtesy: Jonathon Norcross / @NorcrossUSA)
SpaceX Starship explodes creating a fiery scene in the night sky.
Johathon Norcross watched the rocket explode into pieces from his perch in the Bahamas.
SpaceX said they were in communication with the FAA over any needed flight diversions, but there were no immediate reports of issues during the moments after contact was lost with the Starship.
Onlookers from the Turks and Caicos Islands observe the fiery scene of the SpaceX debris falling from the sky.
Residents from areas such as the state of Florida and the Bahamas have been able to observe the spectacle in the night sky.
"During Starship's ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost," SpaceX said in a statement moments after the explosion. "Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses. We will review the data from today's flight test to better understand root cause. As always, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship's reliability."
SpaceX starship explodes over Florida
Video from Sunny Isles Beach in Florida shows the SpaceX starship exploding overhead. Dozens of flights appeared to have been diverted and airports from Orlando through West Palm and Miami reported flight delays associated with the event.(Video Credit: David Vergel via Storyful).
Dozens of flights appeared to have been diverted and airports from Orlando south through West Palm Beach and Miami reported flight delays associated with the event.
The Starship spacecraft is being developed with the long-term goal of carrying astronauts to the Moon and potentially Mars, though SpaceX has not publicly disclosed a timeline for when the rocket will be approved for human space travel.
SpaceX spacecraft explosion seen from Jamaica
The explosion of the SpaceX Spacecraft Thursday night sent fiery debris across the evening sky. This video shows the spectacle from Jamaica. (Courtesy: @tmirza777 / X)