SpaceX says debris recovery attempts hindered after Starship explosion
A massive Starship spacecraft by SpaceX exploded into a dramatic fireball during testing in Texas last week, which Elon Musk's space firm attributed to a 'major anomaly.'
The Starship rocket appeared to have experienced at least two explosions in rapid succession, lighting up the night sky and sending debris flying, according to video capturing the moment it exploded.
'Despite SpaceX's attempts to recover the anomaly related debris, which is and remains the tangible property of SpaceX, these attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property,' the company said in a post on social media platform X.
'We have requested local and federal assistance from the government of Mexico in the recovery,' it said, adding that it also has offered resources and assistance in the clean-up.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that her administration is investigating the security and environmental impact of the launch of rockets, particularly for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
A general review is being conducted to determine what international laws are being violated. 'From there, we'll start a process, because there is indeed contamination,' Sheinbaum had said during a morning press conference.
A Starship spacecraft exploded in space minutes after lifting off from Texas in March, prompting the FAA to halt air traffic in parts of Florida, in a setback for Musk's Mars rocket program.
In January, a Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas, raining debris over Caribbean islands and causing minor damage to a car in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
10 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Report: Musk Quietly Puts Brakes on Plans for New Political Party
Billionaire Elon Musk is quietly putting the brakes on plans to start his new political party, telling allies he wants to focus on his companies, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the plans. Musk unveiled the "America Party" in July after a public dispute with President Donald Trump on the tax cut and spending bill. He has recently been focused in part on maintaining ties with Vice President JD Vance, the paper said, and has acknowledged to associates that forming a political party would damage his relationship with Vance. Musk, the world's richest man, and his associates have told people close to Vance that the billionaire is considering using some of his financial resources to back Vance if he decides to run for president in 2028, the paper said. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX spent nearly $300 million in 2024 to help Trump and other Republicans get elected, exerting enormous influence in the first few weeks of Trump's term as head of the newly created efficiency department (DOGE). Reuters could not immediately verify the Journal report. Tesla and the White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours. Vance, who had called for a truce following Musk's all-public feud with Trump, reaffirmed his position this month and said he had asked Musk to return to the Republican fold. Tesla shares are down more than 18% this year after it posted in July its worst quarterly sales decline in more than a decade and profit that missed Wall Street targets, though its profit margin was better than many had feared. Musk also warned of "a few rough quarters" after the end of support for electric vehicles by the Trump administration. Investors worry whether he will be able to devote enough time and attention to Tesla after locking horns with Trump over his ambitions for a new political party.
Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Musk is quietly pumping breaks on plans to start third political party: Report
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on plans to start a third political party and told allies he wants to focus on his companies and is reluctant to alienate powerful Republicans, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. Musk is also considering using some of his vast financial resources to back US Vice President JD Vance if he decides to run for president in 2028, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Al Arabiya
After repeated explosions, new test for Musk's megarocket
SpaceX said on Friday that its Starship megarocket is scheduled for another test flight next weekend, after a series of fiery failures that have drawn scrutiny from regulators and foreign governments. The world's most powerful launch vehicle, Starship is central to Elon Musk's plans to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually colonize Mars. But repeated explosions have left debris scattered over Caribbean islands, disrupted flights, and raised questions about the program's safety record. The rocket's 10th test is slated for as early as August 24 from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas, according to the company's website. Previous attempts this year saw the spacecraft reach space but disintegrate before a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, following a fuel leak and loss of control. Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall, the rocket is designed to be fully reusable and launch at a fraction of traditional costs. SpaceX has embraced a 'fail fast, learn fast' approach, but the latest setbacks — including a June ground test explosion — have intensified pressure on Musk's company. Despite the failures, Musk insists Starship will begin uncrewed Mars missions next year. Yet environmental concerns are mounting. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum threatened legal action in June over falling debris and contamination, while US regulators recently raised the annual limit on Starship launches from five to 25.
