Air traffic controllers rush to get an aircraft out of harms way

SpaceX says the explosion was a fire that developed in the ship’s hull and that it had been operated on a previous flight

Falling debris from the SpaceX Starship explosion yesterday created what looked like a meteor shower, or a colorful fireworks show based on videos shared by people in the area, but it also delayed flights.

Data from the launch shows that several rocket engines on the ship shut down unexpectedly as it ascended into space. According to the company’s website, there’s initial data that indicates a fire developed in the hull of the ship, leading to a rapid disassembly.

Videos that were posted on X also seem to capture the view from aircraft, although they could not be immediately verified by NPR. Nevertheless, they were consistent with other recordings shown of the incident.

The FAA said it had slowed down and diverted planes around a part of the country where space debris was falling.

It was the second time in as many years that the Super Heavy booster was caught by the launch tower when it was in the air. It was the first time that a booster’s engine had been used from a previous flight.

The launch was a testbed for a redesigned propulsion system, an improved flight computer, and the craft’s heat shield. It’s unclear if any of these were factors in the failure, but SpaceX says that, according to “initial data,” the explosion was potentially the result of a fire that developed in the ship’s rear section.

The company says that “Starship flew within its designated launch corridor” and “any surviving pieces of debris would have fallen into the designated hazard area.” A group of tourists captured the falling debris in the Caribbean sky and were both amazed and concerned about what they were seeing.

At least 20 flights appeared to have been delayed or diverted by the incident according to aircraft data from flight- tracking websites. Ian Petchenik with Flightradar24 said at least 16 of those flights actually had to divert to a different airport.

On the Space Vehicle Mishap that SpaceX Lost: A User’s Story of an Explosion and a High-Redshift Splash in the Indian Ocean

The last time SpaceX lost the Starship was during its third test flight last March. Although it was the first flight where the Starship completed its full-duration ascent burn, SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft shortly before it was expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

“Several aircraft requested to divert due to low fuel levels while holding outside impacted areas,” the agency said. It will require SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation.

There were no reports of injury or damage according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

She says that there was a lot of interruption but that it wasn’t as bad as weather events like storms or blizzards.

Around the same time, bystander videos taken from cruise ships and resorts across the Caribbean showed what appeared to be a large explosion in the sky, followed by a spray of brightly colored shooting stars. The Turks and Caicos were startling for vacationers who saw debris pass over them.

“Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” Musk shared a video on his social media platform of debris taken by a user in Turks and Caicos.

It was only at 5:58 p.m., roughly 13 minutes after the spacecraft reportedly exploded — that controllers in Puerto Rico declared a “space vehicle mishap” and closed the airspace around the incident. By then, ATC communications suggested that much of the debris might have already fallen into the water.

The pilot of Silver Airways flight 127 said he did not know what it was. In response, the pilot was advised to lower his altitude and was permitted to deviate from his flight path to avoid debris. The plane landed safely in San Juan.

“It was Starlink,” chimed in another unidentified pilot, speculating that the streaks may have been communications satellites that are frequently launched by SpaceX.

One pilot told controllers on the ground in San Juan, Puerto Rico that he had a major streak going from at least 60 miles. “It looked like it was coming towards us … just letting you know.”