GRAND CAYMAN – Jean Wright and Ken Kremer of Space UpClose watched the SpaceX Starship Test Flight 8 rocket as it exploded for the second Time in a row / after several upper stage raptor engines shut down – and the vehicle spun out of control – while we were on vacation aboard the Venezia Carnival Line ship on March 6, 2025.
I captured photos of the explosion which were featured on several Fox 35 Orlando stories. See me lead photo
Watch: Here’s my extensive and complete interview about the massive explosion of SpaceX Starship test flight 8 just over 8 minutes after liftoff on March 6, 2025 – over populated areas in the Caribbean & Bahamas. We discussed what’s the meaning and impact and way forward after the explosion?
https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1604938
I captured photos of the explosion which were featured on several Fox 35 Orlando stories
The explosion happened about 8.5 minutes after the 630 PM ET sunset liftoff on March 6, 2025 from Starbase in Boca Chica Texas. It flew roughly eastwards over the Gulf of Mexico toward the vicinity of Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rica and the Caribbean
Starship Test Flight 8 reached an altitude of about 90 miles or 480,000 ft while travelint at 12,427 MPH
A few folks watched with us from onboard the Venezia cruise ship just after we departed Grand Cayman. Viewing conditions were excellent
We saw the rocket explode into a giant plume of vapor that seemed to be spinning. It was visible for several seconds
Debris rained down over the Bahamas, Grand Turk and a wide swath of the Caribbean again – almost the same as happened on Test Flight 7 in January 2025.
In fact debris also rained down over Florida and in the flight paths of airplanes in the air resulting in ground stops and diversions for varying periods of time
This cannot continue until the rocket is fixed and safe.
The FAA has grounded starship until it is satisfactorily fixed! As they should
It’s not acceptable! Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, must not be allowed to bully the FAA into submission. Done while we’re on vacation aboard Venezia Carnival Cruise Line after we just departed Grand Cayman.
Watch my Fox 35 interview on Jan 17 about Test Flight 7 explosion on 16 Jan 2025
Video: https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1578574
Ken Kremer, founder and managing editor of Space UpClose, joined FOX 35’s Garrett Wymer on FOX 35 News+ to break down what’s next for SpaceX after their Starship Flight Test 7 exploded in midair on 16 January 2025 minutes after liftoff from Boca Chica, Texas.
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SpaceX Statement
March 6, 2025
Starship’s Eighth Flight Test
Starship’s eighth flight test lifted off from Starbase in Texas at 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 6. The Super Heavy booster successfully lit its 33 Raptor engines and propelled Starship through a nominal first-stage ascent.
Approximately two and a half minutes into flight, the Super Heavy booster shutdown all but three of its Raptor engines as planned for hot-staging separation. Starship then successfully lit its six Raptor engines and separated from the Super Heavy booster to continue its ascent to space.
The Super Heavy booster then relit 11 of 13 planned Raptor engines and performed a boostback burn to return itself to the launch site. As Super Heavy approached the launch site, it relit 12 of the planned 13 engines at the start of its landing burn to successfully slow the booster down. The three center engines continued running to maneuver the booster to the launch and catch tower arms, resulting in the third successful catch of a Super Heavy booster.
Starship continued its ascent to its planned trajectory. Prior to the end of the ascent burn, an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines. This in turn led to a loss of attitude control and ultimately a loss of communications with Starship. Final contact with Starship came approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.
