The flight test of Starship de SpaceX carried out Thursday from the site of Boca Chica (Texas) caused unexpected disruptions in American airspace. After the rocket exploded in mid-flight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was forced to slow down and temporarily divert several planes in the area where debris was reported.
This situation also caused delays at certain major American airports.
The impact on air traffic and chain delays
Shortly after the Starship explosion, planes were observed taking unusual trajectories and some entering holding patterns or changing course altogether. These changes primarily affected airspace near Puerto Rico, according to data provided by Flightradar24. Moreover, the FAA confirmed that these measures were taken briefly to guarantee flight safety, but it clarified that normal operations had since resumed.
Furthermore, the disruptions were not without consequences for airports. At Miami International Airport, a warning regarding a 30 minute delay was, for example, published on the FAA website. The latter attributed this delay to a “ anomaly during rocket launch. Likewise, the international airport Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood en Florida reported similar delays for the same reasons.
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An explosion at the heart of an ambitious test
Starship’s launch Thursday represented the seventh flight test of SpaceX’s heavy system. The company hoped to test a series of equipment and improvements on the iconic rocket. Despite the explosion, SpaceX managed to capture the massive booster during its descent using the launch tower.
However, the spacecraft explosion quickly made the rounds on social media. Videos and images showing the debris spread online. Moreover, the PDG de SpaceX, Elon Muskhimself shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by an ironic comment:“Success is uncertain, but the show is guaranteed! »
The continuing challenges for SpaceX
In addition to this incident, it should be remembered that SpaceX was already facing criticism. Earlier in the week, Qantas Airlines had complained that debris from the company’s rocket launches was causing delays on some flights.
Despite these obstacles, SpaceX continues to push technological boundaries with its Starship program. However, this incident serves as a reminder that these advances are often accompanied by unforeseen events that can disrupt other sectors.
SOURCE : TECHCRUNCH
