Starship debris fell on beaches and roads from the Turkish-and-Caica islands

Starship debris fell on beaches and roads from the Turkish-and-Caica islands

« Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed! “Twit was Elon Musk while the Starship rocket had failed its seventh test of test. SpaceX lost control of the second floor of his rocket very quickly when the objective of the mission was, among other things, to test a ” Block update »By the one.

If the SpaceX CEO describes this explosion as ” entertainment », This is probably not the word that the inhabitants of the Turkish islands would have chosen.

No one injured, but many debris

This British Caribbean overseas territory located southeast of the Bahamas has seen very closely the explosion on the second floor of starship. And as CNN explains, even if there are no injuries, its inhabitants must now face the fallout from the debris.

Questioned by our colleagues, Lori Kaine, a resident of the island, claims to have “ never seen such colors in the sky “, But since then, she picks up debris from the rocket. She found a cable in her aisle, hexagonal tiles broken on the road (undoubtedly elements of the thermal shield as supposed to be CNN). She also found the beach next to her house, strewn with debris.

According to Alizee Zimmermann, head of the Turks and CAICOS Reef Fund reef protection association, wrecks were found on all the beaches of the city of Providenciales, but also on those of southern and west caïques. She explained to CNN that “ There are debris as small as a third of nail and as large as a car scattered everywhere ».

Alizee Zimmermann hopes an official evaluation including water tests and a reflection on the use of drones to drive out large debris at sea which could have an impact on sensitive ecosystems.

Collection and securing of debris organized by the authorities

On January 17, the Federal Aviation Administration at ” Asked SpaceX to conduct an investigation into the loss of the starship vehicle during launch operations on January 16 ». The American authority added that ” No bodily damage has been reported, and the FAA works with SpaceX and the competent authorities to confirm the reports of material damage to the Turkish-and-Caica Islands ».

According to the local newspaper Turks and Caicos Weekly News, the Government of Turks-and-Caicas organizes the collection and security of the debris fallen to the ground, in collaboration with the American and British authorities. And an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) team, the British organization in charge of air accident investigations is on the ground and works with SpaceX representatives to implement their recovery.

The FAA still instantly, despite the inauguration of Donald Trump

Saturday, February 1, Arstechnica questioned the FAA on the subject. According to our colleagues, the American authority has not changed their minds on its request for an investigation while between the time, Donald Trump was officially invested and Elon Musk is very active at the head of the Doge.

A spokesperson responded to Arstechnica: ” The FAA asked SpaceX to conduct an investigation into the accident of the Super Heavy Flight 7 starships under the supervision of the FAA. Based on the conclusions of the survey concerning deep causes and corrective actions, the FAA may require a company that it modifies its license ».

Recall that SpaceX is not the only one to have a hazardous management of possible debris of rockets. For years, some Chinese rockets have been launched without concern for damage, as in 2020, when debris from the long March 5B rocket fell in Africa. Or, in 2022, when the first floor of the same rocket disintegrated in the atmosphere above the Indian Ocean.

What about responsibilities?

Finally, let us recall that the 1972 Convention on International Responsibility for Damages caused by space objects was ratified by several countries, under the aegis of the United Nations.

In her article II, she provides that a ” Launch state has an absolute responsibility to pay compensation for the damage caused by its spatial object on the surface of the earth or to aircraft in flight ».

In her article I, she takes care to define the terms used. “” Damage “Thus designates” The loss of human lives, bodily injury or other damage to health, or the loss of state or persons, physical or legal, or goods of intergovernmental international organizations, or damage caused to said goods “, while ” launch “Corresponds to both a successful launch and an attempt (stranded).


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