SpaceX launched its seventh test flight Stars rocket on Thursday, but the spacecraft was damaged following a powerful impact that returned it to the pad.

Elon MuskThe company said the Starship had broken up, calling it a “suddenly unplanned disruption.” The rocket appeared to take off SpaceX is launchpad at its Starbase near Brownsville, Texas, but eight and a half minutes into the mission, ground control announced that it had lost all communication with the ship.

Flights near the Turks and Caicos Islands were seen being diverted to avoid debris from the eruption on Thursday and images were shared of debris falling from the sky in the area.

Musk shared a video of falling debris, he writes, “Success is unknown, but fun is guaranteed!”

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced a temporary reduction in flights in and around Florida due to debris that may fall from the installation.

The spacecraft was supposed to fly across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas and around the world, similar to previous tests. SpaceX carried a new and upgraded model with 10 dummy satellites to use in the launch.

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One minute before the crash, SpaceX used the launch platform’s mechanical components to engage the return booster, a one-time event. The first heavy landing gear hovered above the launch pad before being held by robotic arms, called sticks.

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There were no astronauts on board the test flight and the last data received from space showed an altitude of 146 kilometers and a speed of 13,245 km/h.

“The first indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel gas in the ground above the burner of the ship that was large enough to create pressure beyond the force of the wind,” Musk wrote on X hours after Flight 7 took off. “Besides double-checking for leaks, we’re going to add fire suppression to that level and maybe add an entry point. There’s no indication that we’re going to be able to restart next month.”

It was the seventh test flight of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. The work was written again that SpaceX was able to return and hold an additional stage using the launch platform.

NASA has reserved two spacecraft to land on the moon later this decade, with Musk’s main target being Mars.

They also plan to launch real Starlinks on Starships before moving to other satellites, and eventually, crews.

-With files from The Associated Press

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