Starship Flight 8 Explosion Traced to ‘Flash’ in Rocket Engines, SpaceX Investigation Confirms

A sudden flash in one of Starship’s central Raptor engines caused the loss of Flight 8, SpaceX has confirmed. The engine malfunction led to cascading shutdowns and triggered the vehicle’s self-destruct system. FAA oversight has cleared Starship for its ninth test flight, set for May 27, marking the return of the world’s most powerful rocket system.