SpaceX’s Starship exploded as it hit the ocean after reaching orbit for the first time. 

The uncrewed Starship launched around 8.46am ET from SpaceX’s Starbase complex along ​the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville, and was scheduled for a 10-hour mission around the Earth.

However, SpaceX cut Starship’s flight short after an engine unexpectedly shut down during its climb to orbit. 

Footage showed the 40-story Starship flip into position for a gentle splashdown at 11.58am ET, only to erupt in a huge fireball seconds after hitting the water. 

SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said during the livestream: ‘Starship has landed. 

‘As you saw, not quite a soft splashdown as we had on the last one, but it’s Starship in the water nonetheless.’

While the SpaceX team did not confirm Starship had exploded, onshore cameras captured the booster exploding near the middle. 

Some have deemed the mission a ‘complete failure,’ but the goal was to send the massive rocket to orbit, and that is exactly what occurred on Monday. 

The uncrewed rocket exploded as it hit the Pacific Ocean, following a fli9ght test to orbit on Monday

Starship was set to stay in orbit for more than seven hours, but an engine issue forced the SpaceX team to bring it home earlier

At two minutes and 34 seconds into the flight, Starship executed a successful hot stage to separate from the Super Heavy Booster 21, which completed a landing burn above its target splashdown in the Gulf. 

Shortly after, the SpaceX team announced that one of the three Raptor engines on the rocket shut down, nearly scrubbing the orbital mission. 

About 20 minutes later, mission control gave the go-ahead to attempt orbit, drawing cheers across Starbase, and about five minutes later, Starship reached the target. 

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on the successful launch, saying on X: ‘Gorgeous launch, getting Ship to orbit and managing every step in a safe, responsible, and especially inspirational way.

‘NASA, along with the rest of the interested public, is excited to help where we can and for Starship missions to become routine!’

About eight and a half minutes after the burn, a dispenser in the rocket’s nose began releasing 26 third-generation Starlink satellites, each with 10 times the capacity of its predecessor.

As of 9.54am, Starship had deployed its payload of Starlinks, and about one hour later, SpaceX announced the craft’s early return.

‘Flight teams will deorbit Starship safely to our pre-cleared area of the Pacific Ocean after 3 hours in orbit,’ the Elon Musk-owned company said on X. 

Starship appeared to splash down as planned, but seconds later, a massive fireball erupted, sending pieces of the spacecraft flying

SpaceX’s Starship launched from Starbase in South Texas at 8.46am ET

The uncrewed 40-story-tall vehicle, consisting of a ​Super Heavy booster rocket topped by the main ⁠upper-stage Starship vessel, thundered off its launch pad Monday morning

Starship appeared to splash down as planned, but seconds later, a massive fireball erupted, sending pieces of the spacecraft flying. 

After 13 test flights that never reached orbit, SpaceX was attempting to send Starship around Earth for the first time and bring it safely back down.

Success would have strengthened confidence that a modified version can be ready for NASA’s planned Artemis moon landing in 2028. 

It was not immediately clear whether the engine trouble and fiery splashdown would affect SpaceX’s preparations for the planned 2028 moon landing. 

SpaceX ultimately wants Starship to flip upright and touch down in Texas, bringing crews home and allowing the spacecraft to fly again. 

For now, its test flights end at sea, with no plans to recover the vehicle.