SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded minutes after it launched from Texas Thursday. The big picture: Debris from the rocket caused flight delays in cities across the U.S., including Miami and Philadelphia,

Meanwhile, the EU celebrated a successful satellite deployment on the second launch of its Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana. The project had cost overruns and years of delays, but the successful mission on Thursday was a huge victory for Europe as it seeks to become more independent from the United States on space missions.