FAA: SpaceX’s Starship Explosion Causes Flight Delays and Disruptions
The recent explosion of SpaceX’s Starship had a significant impact on commercial aviation in the United States. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident disrupted approximately 240 flights due to concerns about space debris, forcing the diversion of more than two dozen aircraft.
Impact on Commercial Flights
The FAA reported that ground stops were implemented on Thursday, lasting just over an hour, affecting operations at four key airports in Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Palm Beach.
These restrictions lasted a little over an hour, resulting in:
- 171 departure delays, with an average of 28 minutes per flight.
- 28 flights diverted.
- 40 airborne flights held, with an average wait time of 22 minutes while the FAA’s debris response area remained active.
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FAA Research and Regulations
The FAA has required SpaceX to conduct an investigation into the loss of the Starship. This comes in a context where the agency had recently approved the launch license for the eighth Starship test flight, even though the investigation into the previous failure was still ongoing.
To grant the authorization, the FAA reviewed SpaceX’s application and the initial details of the investigation into the previous failure before allowing the launch to proceed.
Explosion Details
The Starship exploded in space after its engines shut down and the spacecraft began spinning out of control. Videos on social media captured burning debris in the sky at dusk near southern Florida and the Bahamas. This incident marks the second consecutive explosion in a SpaceX test attempt.
The failure of the eighth launch comes just over a month after the seventh attempt also ended in an explosion. Failures in the early stages of the mission represent a setback for a program that Elon Musk has sought to accelerate this year.
Despite the situation, Musk described Thursday’s explosion as a “minor setback.” Additionally, responding to a comment on his social media platform X, he stated that “progress is measured over time” and assured that the next spacecraft will be ready within 4 to 6 weeks.
The Starship rocket system, standing at 123 meters tall, is a key component of Musk’s plans to send humans to Mars in the early part of the next decade. However, recurring failures could delay these ambitious goals.
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