SpaceX's Starship Rocket exploded minutes after the liftoff, and the shrapnel reached Philadelphia, delaying flights in several states, including Florida.
This was the eighth test flight of the rocket. Like previous attempts, it ended with the collapse of a 400-foot-high rocket on Thursday. Some of the engines had broken down and the rocket appeared to be out of control.
The unmanned rocket was released at 6:30pm ET. video Of the rockets posted on social media platforms, it showed that the spacecraft was broken in the air.
The rocket took off from Texas near Brownsville city exploded, but SpaceX was able to capture the booster from the spacecraft when it returned to the launch tower.
“During the rising burns of Starship, the vehicle experienced a rapid, unplanned demolition and contact was lost. Our team immediately began coordinating with safety personnel to implement a pre-planned emergency response,” SpaceX said Thursday. post X, right after the incident.
The Space Technology Company, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, said it will “review the data” from Thursday's flight to “a better understanding of the root cause.”
“As always, success comes from what we've learned, and today's flights offer additional lessons to improve the reliability of Starship,” says SpaceX.
The rocket's collapse delayed departures at several airports around the country, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data showed.
Departures from two Florida airports (Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport) were delayed by up to 45 minutes due to “space-fire debris.”
According to FAA data, departures from Philadelphia International Airport for the same reasons were delayed by more than 30 minutes for the same reasons.
The FAA said Thursday that it is “requiring SpaceX to conduct an accident investigation into the loss of a spacecraft vehicle during the launch operation on March 6th.”
“During the event, the FAA activates the debris response area and temporarily delays the aircraft outside of areas where debris from space vehicles have fallen or where the aircraft is stopped at the departure location,” the FAA wrote. statement. “Normal operation has resumed.”
