Big explosion rocks Elon Musk's Starship testing, launch postponed
While no injuries have been reported, the blast caused significant damage to the Starship prototype, forcing SpaceX to halt all preparations for the upcoming flight. SpaceX postpones Starship's ninth flight after explosion
Explosion during static fire test caused significant damage
No injuries reported, but preparations halted indefinitely
SpaceX has postponed the much-anticipated ninth flight of its Starship rocket after a dramatic explosion rocked the company's Starbase facility in Texas during a static fire test.
The setback marks the latest in a series of high-profile incidents for Elon Musk's ambitious Mars-bound launch system.
WATCH STARSHIP EXPLOSION DURING TEST HERE:
The explosion occurred during a routine static fire test, a critical step before any launch, where engines are ignited while the rocket remains anchored to the ground.
While no injuries have been reported, the blast caused significant damage to the Starship prototype, forcing SpaceX to halt all preparations for the upcoming flight.
SpaceX confirmed it is no longer targeting the third week of May for the Starship Flight 9 launch, with the timeline for future attempts now uncertain.
This latest incident follows a string of explosive setbacks for Starship, including recent failures where the spacecraft lost control and broke apart minutes after liftoff, scattering debris over the Caribbean and prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to open investigations and temporarily close the US airspace. Each mishap has triggered thorough reviews and upgrades, but the repeated failures have raised questions about the programme's pace and safety protocols.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains committed to its vision of making Starship the world's first fully reusable rocket, capable of carrying humans to the Moon and Mars.
However, with the latest explosion, the path to that future faces renewed scrutiny and an indefinite delay as engineers work to identify and resolve the cause of the catastrophic failure.
SpaceX has postponed the much-anticipated ninth flight of its Starship rocket after a dramatic explosion rocked the company's Starbase facility in Texas during a static fire test.
The setback marks the latest in a series of high-profile incidents for Elon Musk's ambitious Mars-bound launch system.
WATCH STARSHIP EXPLOSION DURING TEST HERE:
The explosion occurred during a routine static fire test, a critical step before any launch, where engines are ignited while the rocket remains anchored to the ground.
While no injuries have been reported, the blast caused significant damage to the Starship prototype, forcing SpaceX to halt all preparations for the upcoming flight.
SpaceX confirmed it is no longer targeting the third week of May for the Starship Flight 9 launch, with the timeline for future attempts now uncertain.
This latest incident follows a string of explosive setbacks for Starship, including recent failures where the spacecraft lost control and broke apart minutes after liftoff, scattering debris over the Caribbean and prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to open investigations and temporarily close the US airspace. Each mishap has triggered thorough reviews and upgrades, but the repeated failures have raised questions about the programme's pace and safety protocols.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains committed to its vision of making Starship the world's first fully reusable rocket, capable of carrying humans to the Moon and Mars.
However, with the latest explosion, the path to that future faces renewed scrutiny and an indefinite delay as engineers work to identify and resolve the cause of the catastrophic failure. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
Musk is ‘dialing back' on conflict with Trump under regulatory threat, says ARK CEO Cathie Wood
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and investors are beginning to understand more how much the U.S. government has control over the companies that Musk's running, said Cathie Wood, CEO of asset management firm ARK Investment Management, in a video published late Friday. Wood's comments come after Musk departed the Department of Government Efficiency. On Tuesday, Musk criticized Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill," saying it would increase the national deficit and undermine DOGE's cost-cutting efforts. In response, Trump questioned Musk's contributions and threatened to cancel federal contracts with Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. On Thursday, Musk alleged that Trump appeared in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump dismissed Musk as having 'lost his mind." On the same day, Musk also threatened to decommission Dragon spacecraft, a space capsule used to transport astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station. But a few hours later, he pulled back the threat, saying he wouldn't follow through. This, according to Wood, is a sign that Musk is backing down from his conflict with Trump. This public rift between Musk and Trump will have deep implications for not only U.S. politics, but also Musk's business ventures. Investors are worried that a worsening relationship between the two could lead to a less friendly regulatory environment for companies Musk is involved with. SpaceX has $22 billion in government contracts, said Wood. She added that regulation of autonomous taxi platforms could impact the speed of their rollout—which could impact the robo-taxi service Tesla plans to launch in Texas later this month. (Neuralink, another Musk-owned company that is developing brain-computer interfaces, is subject to FDA regulation, as well.) It's possible that the fight with Trump was orchestrated by Musk as part of a plan to disengage from the government and being associated with the Republican party, said Wood, especially as Trump is acting tough on China—an important market for Tesla both in terms of consumption and production. 'He certainly doesn't want to be impaired there," said Wood. Tesla didn't immediately respond to Barron's request for comment. Regardless, Wood remains confident in Musk, noting that he 'works really well under pressure." Musk has said that his role is to help the U.S. get out of a budget deficit through accelerated economic growth. Wood thinks the board at Tesla should encourage him to get back to that priority. In terms of her own investment with Tesla, Wood said she is used to volatility in her portfolios—and has been adjusting her holdings in the stock to take advantage of such dramatic price moves. She noted that ARK net sold nearly half a billion dollars of Tesla shares after the 2024 presidential election, expecting some turbulence down the road. 'We try to use the volatility to our advantage," she said, 'Dialing down exposure as the stock soared is part of active management in the [exchange-traded fund] wrapper." The fallout between Musk and Trump propelled Tesla stock to drop 14% on Thursday, wiping out more than $150 billion in market value. Share prices recovered somewhat on Friday, with the stock finishing 3.7% higher. Wood has been a long-time Tesla bull, and believes that the electric vehicle company can dominate the highly profitable and scalable robo-taxi business—on-demand rides with driverless cars—thanks to its leadership in autonomous driving technology. She has a price target of $2,600 for Tesla stock by 2029, nearly nine times its current price. By the end of the first quarter, ARK owned nearly 3.3 million shares of Tesla stock worth $928 million. While that's only 0.1% of Tesla's total shares outstanding, it made up 7.6% of the firm's total holdings, according to the firm's 13F filings. Some of ARK's funds have even higher exposure. Tesla is the top holding of the ARK Innovation ETF, the company's flagship fund, with a 10.3% weight as of Friday. The stock also makes up 10.8% of the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF and 6.9% of the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF. Write to Evie Liu at
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why Elon Musk's Tesla rival BYD is suing 37 influencers, offering 'huge' rewards for...
Representative Image Elon Musk-led Tesla's rival, BYD , is taking legal action against 37 influencer accounts and monitoring 126 others for alleged disinformation and damaging content online, a report claims. The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer has also reportedly announced a financial incentive program, offering significant rewards for verified leads on suspected online disinformation. Recently, BYD's Legal Department released a statement via its official WeChat account, providing updates on several ongoing legal cases concerning online defamation, CarNewsChina reports. The report claims that the company has also confirmed that it is pursuing legal action against the 37 influencer accounts. Meanwhile, the company's long-term financial incentive program is offering rewards ranging from 50,000 to 5 million yuan (nearly $6,900 to $690,000), the report adds. These rewards will be offered for verified information related to suspected online disinformation targeting the company. What BYD said about suing influencers for spreading disinformation online In a statement to CarNewsChina, Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD's Branding and PR Department, reiterated the company's stance, noting that all related posts and comment threads have been preserved as legal evidence. 'We welcome media criticism and public oversight, but we will not tolerate defamatory content or false accusations. Legal action will continue,' Yunfei noted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Didn't Anyone Tell You About This Power Saver? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo The company also said that it has been the target of repeated online attacks in recent years, involving false or misleading information that the company claims has damaged its brand image, disrupted market order, and impacted the broader automotive industry. Despite BYD referring to these incidents as "organised" or "coordinated," it has yet to present public evidence to support these claims. The company has also cited several legal rulings as examples of its efforts to fight defamation. In one case, a Weibo user was ordered to publicly apologise and pay 100,000 yuan for accusing BYD of using influencers to smear rivals. A WeChat Video account faced similar penalties for insulting the company and its executives. Other accounts on WeChat and Douyin were also found guilty of making false claims about product safety, resulting in fines. Meanwhile, individual users faced police penalties, administrative detention, or ongoing criminal investigations for spreading unverified or defamatory statements about BYD's financial stability and vehicle safety. BYD claimed that more lawsuits over similar cases are still in progress. While some court rulings have supported the company's claims, other investigations are ongoing. Smart AC Hacks to Cut Your Electricity Bill & Make It Last Longer! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's 'abnormal behavior' linked to hypomania, says Dr. Drew Pinsky; know what it is and why it matters
Elon Musk's 'abnormal behavior' linked to hypomania, says Dr. Drew Pinsky; know what it is and why it matters In the relentless race of modern tech entrepreneurship, few names shine as brightly—or stir more debate—than Elon Musk . From co-founding PayPal to helming Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, Musk's achievements seem almost superhuman. But psychologist and addiction medicine expert Dr. Drew Pinsky, known to many as "Dr. Drew," recently shared a compelling perspective: Musk's behavior may be consistent with hypomania, a clinical mood state that exists on the bipolar spectrum. Musk himself disclosed he has Asperger's syndrome, but Dr. Pinsky suggests his energetic and erratic public behavior may indicate something more. Here you can delve into what hypomania actually is, what causes it, how it's diagnosed and treated, and why it matters—whether or not a public figure like Elon Musk lives with it. Dr. Drew on Elon Musk: A brilliant mind, but possibly 'hypomanic' On a recent appearance on Newsmax, Dr. Drew Pinsky applauded Musk's accomplishments and intelligence, but cautioned: "There's a flip‑side of that success that Musk probably has hypomania" He noted Musk's exuberant energy, nonstop tweeting, unfiltered outbursts, and sudden policy clashes—like his highly publicized feud with President Trump—as examples of behavior 'beyond Asperger's.' This suggests a possible mood dysregulation consistent with hypomanic episodes. What is hypomania Hypomania is a mood disorder characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and hyperactivity lasting at least four days. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubre cómo Amazon CFD puede ayudarte a invertir como un pro Empezar ahora Subscríbete Undo It sits below full mania in severity—hypomania doesn't typically involve psychosis or hospitalization—but still represents a significant deviation from normal functioning. It is one phase in bipolar II disorder, according to the DSM‑5, and can reflect both impressive creativity or productivity—what some might call 'the genius zone'—as well as impulsive and risky behavior. Causes of hypomania 1. Genetics Family history of bipolar spectrum disorders significantly increases the risk of hypomania. 2. Neurochemical imbalance Fluctuations in dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels—critical in reward and arousal—may trigger hypomanic states. 3. Life stress or overwork High-pressure roles like Musk's, with irregular schedules and intense responsibility, frequently precipitate episodes. 4. Sleep deprivation Reduced need for sleep—Musk often says he sleeps just six hours a night—is a known trigger. 5. Medication or substance use Certain drugs, stimulants, and even prescription medications can induce hypomanic symptoms in susceptible individuals. Common symptoms of hypomania Hypomanic behavior manifests in several recognizable ways: Elevated or irritable mood Decreased need for sleep, without feeling tired Rapid or pressured speech Flight of ideas, jumping between topics Distractibility Increased goal-oriented activity Risk-taking, such as impulsive investments or unfiltered tweets These symptoms must persist for at least four consecutive days. In Musk's case, frequent behaviors—such as launching companies in rapid succession, launching rockets at breakneck timelines, and administering controversial Twitter/X changes—suggest recurring hypomanic patterns. The dark side of hypomania: Know its risks Though often glorified as 'super-focus' or a creative edge, hypomania carries significant risks: Burnout Strained relationships triggered by irritability Impulsive financial or strategic decisions Rapid cycling into depression Escalation into full-blown mania if untreated Although Musk has channeled his energy into extraordinary accomplishments, Dr. Pinsky warns that 'the flip‑side' of hypomania can lead to impulsiveness and unpredictability—factors that can impact both personal life and public perception. Hypomania diagnosis and assessment Hypomania is diagnosed via a careful psychiatric evaluation based on the DSM‑5 criteria. Mental health professionals assess: Duration and nature of symptoms Functional impact on daily life History of episodic mood changes Family mental health background Exclusion of substance- or medication-induced symptoms Hypomania treatment options 1. Medication Mood stabilizers: Lithium, lamotrigine, valproate Atypical antipsychotics: Quetiapine, aripiprazole Cautious use of Antidepressants, as they can sometimes trigger hypomania 2. Psychotherapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for recognizing triggers Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) to stabilize routines Psychoeducation for awareness and early detection 3. Lifestyle Adjustments Regular sleep schedules Stress reduction via mindfulness or exercise Avoid stimulant medications or substances Mood tracking through apps or journals Living with hypomania: Can it be an asset Some psychologists have argued that hypomania, when mild and well-managed, can be a 'productive' state, especially in high-achieving individuals like entrepreneurs or artists. People like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and other visionaries often display traits associated with hypomania: relentless drive, charisma, and unconventional thinking. However, romanticizing mental health conditions can be dangerous. Without proper boundaries and treatment, hypomania can quickly spiral out of control. Also read | Pandemic 2.0 alert: Wild animal markets could trigger the next global outbreak; experts warn of imminent risk One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
