Musk Vows to Ramp Up Starship Launches After Mid-Flight Rupture

The mid-flight loss of SpaceX’s Starship — its third consecutive setback — underscores the daunting challenges Elon Musk faces in achieving his lofty space ambitions as the world’s richest person pledges to refocus on his business empire.

When SpaceX’s Starship thundered off the South Texas launchpad late Tuesday, employees cheered the ability of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket to surpass the previous two flawed missions. But halfway into the flight, the stainless-steel Starship disintegrated after leaking propellant and spinning out of control.

While SpaceX had managed to refurbish and launch a previously flown Super Heavy booster — ...