SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during its first test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, with no people or satellites on board.
The rocket was powered by 33 Raptor engines, and the launch was live-streamed.
The explosion occurred about four minutes after the launch, and the rocket tumbled and came apart.
The company had planned to send the rocket on an attempted trip around the globe from Texas to the Pacific ocean near Hawaii.
Despite the rocket's explosion, the launch pad survived, and SpaceX learned from the experience.
SpaceX's Starship is designed to be a reusable space vehicle for crew and cargo to travel to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The incident highlights the risks and challenges of the private space industry and the need for regulation to ensure safety while encouraging innovation.