The rocket previously served a Starlink mission, a satellite launch as well as cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
SpaceX fans have shared their disappointment and grief online.
Tim Dodd of Everyday Astronaut tweeted: “Oh no!!! @spacex lost a booster today. It is a bad luck day.
“They haven’t lost a booster for almost a year. The streak has ended but hopefully they figure out what went wrong and make a better and more reliable booster in the future!”
Another person said: “This was kinda shocking to watch. Forgot that they were capable of making mistakes, they’ve been so consistent with F9.”
