SpaceX‘s latest Starship test flight ended in failure once again, causing disruptions to Florida’s busiest airports. The uncrewed Starship vehicle exploded midflight, leading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt flights into Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando airports. Departures from Miami and Fort Lauderdale were also delayed, with some flights running 30 to 45 minutes behind schedule.
The Starship spacecraft, riding atop the Super Heavy booster, lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas. It appeared to be on track until several engines cut out, causing the ship to lose attitude control and spin uncontrollably. Moments later, SpaceX lost contact with the vehicle, marking the second consecutive mission failure.
El Starship explota de nuevo y obliga al cierre de aeropuertos de Florida
Another failed test flight
This incident mirrors a previous Starship failure in January when the spacecraft exploded over the Turks and Caicos Islands, scattering debris and damaging a car. SpaceX later confirmed that the latest explosion resulted from an “energetic event” in the aft portion of the spacecraft, which led to engine failures and communication loss.
SpaceX maintains that the debris fell within a designated response area and poses no threat to marine life or water quality. However, the FAA has launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine the cause and ensure public safety before granting SpaceX approval for future launches.
Ongoing concerns about SpaceX’s impact
This latest failure raises concerns about the risks associated with SpaceX’s ambitious launch program. Florida’s air traffic disruptions highlight the broader consequences of these tests, affecting thousands of passengers. While SpaceX continues to push forward with its Starship program, regulatory agencies will closely monitor its safety measures moving forward.
For now, passengers traveling through Florida’s major airports may continue to experience residual delays as flight schedules recover from the unexpected disruption.
