However, the rocket system's upper stage, which was packed with upgrades for the flight test, did not survive the launch and appeared to break apart over the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. SpaceX confirmed on the live broadcast that the spacecraft's engines started to go out prior to planned engine cut-off and Starship later stopped delivering telemetry data.

A SpaceX Starship rocket broke apart shortly after launch on a test flight from south Texas on Thursday, January 16, causing airplanes to be diverted away from any potential falling debris. Footage via Storyful from Cailen Rotz shows the rocket's breakup over Turks and Caicos.

The incident in which a SpaceX rocket broke up after launch demonstrates the challenges the FAA will face as the number of commercial space flights increases.