Emergency radio calls from Puerto Rico's Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers began blaring Thursday night as a SpaceX test flight exploded and debris began raining down toward the Caribbean Sea.
Flights near Puerto Rico must avoid passing through the area or risk being hit by a falling chunk of Elon Musk's newest and largest rocket, Starship.
Air traffic controllers announced over the FAA's radio system that it was a “spacecraft accident,” and onlookers on the islands below and some of the planes flying nearby said they saw parts of the spacecraft tumble toward the ocean. saw a bright streak of light.
A second air traffic controller added: “We have received reports of debris outside the protected area, so we currently have to restrain it in this airspace.”
An accident in which the Starship spacecraft exploded while still ascending into space prompted the FAA on Friday to cancel additional launches by SpaceX's Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.
The incident has raised new questions about both the safety of the burgeoning number of commercial space launches, or at least the disruption to air traffic they cause.
It's also the latest incident to highlight the conflicts that Elon Musk's new role in the Trump administration will bring. He has the power to recommend changes and budget cuts to government agencies, including the FAA, but that tension could hamper investigations like the one announced Friday.
Musk, who is preparing to travel to Washington to attend Trump's inauguration, expressed confidence as of Thursday night that SpaceX would quickly resolve questions about the explosion and resume test flights.
“There is currently nothing to suggest that the next launch will be after next month,” Musk said on his social media site X.
Musk also teased the scene created by the explosion, with debris falling toward the Turks and Caicos Islands. Above “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” Footage of fiery debris falling towards Earth.
The explosion occurred as Starship's second stage – scheduled to carry cargo and even astronauts on a future mission to the moon – separated from its lower super-heavy booster and was flying at about 13,250 miles per hour at an altitude of 90 miles above sea level. . Earth.
According to SpaceX ship tracking information, Starship has already launched its own rocket to complete its flight into orbit, and when it exploded it weighed just over 100 tons, Starship's approximate mass without fuel. It suggests that it was.
SpaceX and FAA officials did not respond Friday to questions submitted in writing and in an interview with The New York Times about whether the explosion and falling debris could have posed a threat to aircraft or people on the ground. . It's unclear how much of the spacecraft was burned up during the fall.
The agency said there were no reports of injuries, but it is investigating reports of property damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It also said several planes that had been asked to stay away from falling debris ended up having to be diverted and returned to other airports due to lack of fuel.
SpaceX said in a statement about this seventh Starship test flight that early data shows a fire broke out in the back of the spacecraft, resulting in an explosion and falling debris in an area already identified by SpaceX and the FAA. This suggests that you may be exposed to such risks.
All flights were already prohibited near the South Texas launch site on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico at the time of the launch. Starship was at about 10 times the altitude of a commercial aircraft when it exploded, so there would have been time to warn aircraft in the area to avoid the wreckage before it approached.
SpaceX will be responsible for investigating the accident, but it will be supervised by the FAA, and test flights could resume even before the investigation is complete if SpaceX can document that the accident did not pose a safety issue. There is sex.
Musk has previously expressed frustration with how long it takes for government agencies to approve Starship's launch license. He will now become a prominent member of the Trump administration through his position as co-leader of an advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, which has the authority to evaluate federal spending and regulation.
“What this new administration can do is bring this review to a conclusion sooner,” said Todd Harrison, a former space industry executive at the American Enterprise Institute.
He said parts of the FAA may want to make new demands on SpaceX related to launch times for future Starship test flights and broader restrictions on flights along broader flight paths. He added that he expects that there may be.
Satellite industry consultant Tim Farrar said the incident is a challenge the U.S. faces as it ramps up space launches, both for the Pentagon as it ramps up space warfare capabilities and for large commercial companies like SpaceX and Amazon. He said that it shows the complexity that would occur. Build a constellation of thousands of satellites to establish global broadband Internet access from orbit.
“Realistically, how fast can we increase the tempo of launches?” Farah said.
Last year, 145 launches reached orbit from the United States, compared to just 21 five years ago. Of those orbital launches, 133 were by SpaceX, the world's now dominant space company, according to data collected by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who tracks launches around the world. That's what it means.
Most of those SpaceX launches were on Falcon 9 rockets deploying Starlink communications satellites and Pentagon payloads and were not affected by Friday's FAA order.
Blue Origin, the launch company founded by Jeff Bezos, conducted its own rocket test on Thursday, becoming the first to reach orbit with a spacecraft called New Glenn. However, due to the low number of planes flying at the time, it was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 2:03 a.m.
The jump in launch frequency had sparked complaints from airlines even before Thursday, including Australian-based carrier Qantas, which told reporters this month that debris had caused it to fly to Johannesburg and Sydney. He said several flights in between had to be delayed at the last minute. From the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
A Qantas executive said in a statement: “While we strive to reschedule in advance, the timing of recent flights has been delayed and we have had to delay some flights at the last minute before departure.” Ta.
Hannah Walden, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America, said the commercial airline is closely tracking the issue.
“Safety is a top priority for U.S. airlines, and as the number of space launches increases, we are committed to ensuring the safety of every flight,” he said in a statement. “We continue to collaborate and coordinate with stakeholders in the federal government and commercial space to ensure that America’s airspace remains safe for all users.”
Bill Nelson, the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the Biden administration, praised the test flight. The space agency has a more than $4 billion contract with SpaceX to use Starship twice to land astronauts on the moon.
“Spaceflight is not easy,” he wrote on Musk's X platform Thursday night. “It's by no means routine. That's why these tests are so important, and each test brings us closer to the moon and then to Mars.”
Mark Walker contributed reporting.
