US regulators and officials in Turks and Caicos are investigating reports of property damage caused by debris from the SpaceX Starship explosion on Thursday. The spacecraft exploded during a test mission over the ocean, and debris reportedly fell onto the island nation.
FAA Grounds SpaceX Flights for Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all SpaceX Starship flights following the explosion. Both the FAA and officials in Turks and Caicos confirmed there were no injuries. The FAA’s “mishap investigation” protocol halts flights when an incident occurs during a launch.
SpaceX will lead the investigation, and the FAA will later issue corrective actions to ensure Starship can return to the launchpad for future tests.
The Explosion: What Happened?
The explosion occurred about 10 minutes into the seventh uncrewed test flight of Starship. The spacecraft launched from South Texas, and debris fell over the Atlantic Ocean. The FAA set up a “Debris Response Area” to reroute flights and avoid the hazard.
The Turks and Caicos National Security Secretariat grounded flights and redirected air traffic until it was deemed safe. Initially, SpaceX stated that the debris would fall within the designated hazard area. The FAA has yet to confirm this.
Property Damage from Debris and Sonic Booms
Debris from the explosion appeared on social media, with videos showing glowing fragments in the sky. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist, confirmed that the explosion occurred over the Bahamas, and debris passed over Turks and Caicos shortly after.
Authorities have advised the public not to handle any debris. Dr. Benjamin Fernando, a seismologist, suggested that sonic booms from falling debris might have caused minor property damage, such as broken windows or roof tiles. However, the damage is likely not severe.
Pilots’ Encounters with Falling Debris
Matt Morley, a charter pilot flying from Chicago to Turks and Caicos, witnessed the falling debris. He initially thought it was a meteor shower. After contacting air traffic control, Morley learned the debris was from SpaceX’s rocket. His plane had to divert to the Bahamas due to airspace closures.
Morley expressed relief that his flight had enough fuel for the diversion. He noted that two other commercial flights had to declare fuel emergencies and reroute to the Bahamas as well.
SpaceX’s Approach to Testing
SpaceX has a history of accepting “rapid unscheduled disassemblies” during Starship test flights. Despite frequent explosions, the company continues to push forward with its development. Starship’s primary goal is to carry out missions to orbit, the moon, and Mars, though Thursday’s test flight ended prematurely.
Elon Musk has expressed confidence that the mishap won’t delay future Starship tests. He mentioned in a social media post that, based on early analysis, there is no need to push back the next planned launch.
Starship’s Future and Investigation Impact
While the investigation continues, it’s unclear whether the mishap will cause significant delays for future flights. SpaceX has faced delays from previous mishaps, but Musk’s confident stance suggests that the company will keep moving forward with its ambitious space exploration goals.
