The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported that an explosion during a SpaceX Starship test disrupted approximately 240 flights yesterday.
The incident, which marked the second consecutive explosion of a SpaceX test launch, led to widespread delays and diversions as safety protocols were activated due to concerns over space debris.
According to FAA data, ground stops were issued for flights departing from four Florida airports—Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The disruption resulted in 171 departure delays with an average delay of 28 minutes, 28 flights were diverted, and 40 airborne flights were held for an average of 22 minutes while the agency’s Debris Response Area was active.
In addition to the immediate operational impact, the FAA has directed SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle. The agency confirmed that, while reviewing SpaceX’s license application and preliminary findings from its investigation into the previous Starship failure, it approved the launch license for this test flight last month.
Social media footage captured fiery debris streaking across the skies near South Florida and the Bahamas, while live streams from SpaceX showed the Starship vehicle breaking up in space shortly after entering an uncontrolled spin and cutting off its engines.
The eighth test flight’s explosive failure comes just over a month after the seventh test met a similar fate, marking a setback for a program that CEO Elon Musk has been keen to accelerate. Despite the setback, Musk described the incident as “a minor setback” on Friday and stated on his social media platform X, “Progress is measured by time. The next ship will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks.” The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket system is a key component of Musk’s ambitious plans to send humans to Mars in the near future.
German police have detained a suspect after a major fire broke out at the historic Kehlsteinhaus, known as the “Eagle’s Nest&rdqu...
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured as strong winds and torrential rain brought down tr...
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday dismissed accusations that Canada planned to interfere in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, ...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
A powerful magnitude 7 earthquake has struck Tibet in southwestern China, killing 16 people and injuring 65, while forcing more than 12,000 residents to relocate as rescue teams respond to widespread aftershocks.
German police have detained a suspect after a major fire broke out at the historic Kehlsteinhaus, known as the “Eagle’s Nest”, a mountain retreat once used by senior Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler.
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured as strong winds and torrential rain brought down trees, cut power and disrupted transport across the island.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday dismissed accusations that Canada planned to interfere in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, saying he was disappointed by comments from the American ambassador.
Kenya has recorded a second death from Ebola, the health ministry said late on Friday, as the outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to spread across Africa.
Gunmen opened fire on mourners at a church funeral in southern Jordan on Friday, killing at least seven people in a rare attack on the country’s Christian minority that has raised fresh questions about security in the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment