SpaceX’s Starship Explodes Again Disrupting Air Traffic Over Puerto Rico 

    SpaceX’s Starship Explodes Again Disrupting Air Traffic Over Puerto Rico 

    Flights were grounded, diverted, or forced to return after the spacecraft detonated during a test flight. Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico, confirmed that air traffic was halted over the island before resuming shortly after the explosion. The extent of the disruption remains unclear, but delays and cancellations rippled through airports, including several in Florida. 

    Another Failed Test for Starship

    This marks the second time in two months that the massive spacecraft, designed by Elon Musk’s company, has detonated mid-flight. A previous incident on January 16 scattered debris over the Turks and Caicos Islands, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to impose airspace restrictions over Florida, Puerto Rico, and parts of the Caribbean. 

    The latest launch began in Texas just before sunset. The 403-foot rocket lifted off successfully, and its first stage was recovered. The second stage, however, failed as its engines shut down while traveling east. What was meant to be a controlled descent over the Indian Ocean turned into a loss of control. SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft before it could complete its mission, which included releasing simulated satellites into orbit. The vehicle reached nearly 90 miles in altitude before problems emerged. The company has not disclosed where the remains of the spacecraft fell. 

    SpaceX Responds to the Explosion in Puerto Rico

    Dan Huot, SpaceX’s flight commentator, acknowledged the failure. “Unfortunately, this also happened last time, so now we have some practice,” he said from the launch site. 

    NASA has invested in Starship for its lunar missions, with plans to send astronauts to the moon later this decade. Musk envisions using the rocket to reach Mars. The ill-fated test was the eighth attempt to prepare the system for future deep-space missions. Starship carried four mock satellites similar to the thousands of Starlink units already orbiting Earth. 

    The Future of Starship and SpaceX’s Mission

    SpaceX had redesigned the spacecraft’s fins, computers, and fuel system to advance its goal of returning the vehicle to its launch pad. In the previous test, the booster was successfully retrieved, but the spacecraft itself exploded minutes later over the Atlantic. No injuries or significant damage were reported. 

    Despite these setbacks, Musk remains committed to pushing Starship forward. Whether SpaceX can overcome these failures before NASA’s planned lunar missions remains to be seen. 

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