During a Starship test flight, a potentially disastrous situation arose in the skies above the Caribbean
New and alarming details are emerging about the explosion of a SpaceX rocket that occurred last January. According to an investigation by Wall Street Journal (WSJ), based on documents from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), fragments of the rocket would have put the lives of approximately 450 people on board two commercial flights and a private jet at risk, bringing air traffic safety to the brink of collapse for almost an hour.
what happened
—
The accident dates back to January 16, during the seventh uncrewed test flight of the Starship. The rocket, the most powerful ever built, exploded after launch from Texas, about eight minutes into the flight, scattering a vast field of burning debris over the Caribbean. Three civilian planes suddenly found themselves flying over the area. A JetBlue flight bound for San Juan was warned that onward travel was “at your own risk” as debris fell from the sky like a meteor shower. The pilot raised the emergency signal “Mayday” three times and then managed to make an emergency landing in San Juan. The aircraft involved also included an Iberia Airlines plane and a private jet. The pilots were faced with an extreme choice: cross the burning debris field or divert course, risking running out of fuel over the ocean. After the explosion, the airspace was transformed into a sudden no-fly zone, forcing controllers to urgently divert planes to make them safe. In that context of high pressure, a controller had to intervene at the last moment to avoid a collision, after an Iberia plane and a private jet had come dangerously close to each other.
not timely alarm
—
The FAA documents make it clear that the impact of even a single fragment would have most likely caused a disaster with numerous victims. Particularly serious is the fact that SpaceX, according to the US aviation authority, did not promptly inform the emergency hotline required by law. Miami air traffic controllers became aware of the debris cloud only after reports from pilots forced to fly through it. All three planes ultimately managed to land without damage or injuries, but the episode reignited concerns about the safety of private space launches. At the time, Elon Musk had commented on the explosion with his usual provocative tone on social media, recalls Wsj: “Success is not guaranteed, but entertainment is”, without referring to the risk faced by hundreds of passengers.
Give the gift of adrenaline at Christmas: choose a driving experience on the track with a supercar starting from €49
commission suspended
—
After the accident, the FAA established a commission of experts to assess the risks associated with the increase in space launches, only to unexpectedly suspend it in August. According to the agency’s estimates, compared to a historical average of 24 launches per year between 1989 and 2024, between 200 and 400 launches or returns per year could occur in the future. Meanwhile, SpaceX confirmed the failure of the January test by speaking of a “rapid unplanned disintegration” of Starship and announcing its intention to continue development of the program. An even more powerful version of the rocket is already planned for next year, despite the critical issues that have emerged on the safety front.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED