SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — SpaceX’s big new rocket exploded minutes after blasting off on its first take a look at flight and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Elon Musk’s firm was aiming to ship the almost 400-foot Starship rocket on a round-the-world journey from the southern tip of Texas, close to the Mexican border. It carried no folks or satellites.

SpaceX plans to make use of Starship to ship folks and cargo to the moon and, in the end, Mars.

A caught valve scrapped Monday’s attempt.

Throngs of spectators watched from a number of miles away from the Boca Chica Beach launch web site, which was off-limits.

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com