SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft has broken up mid-flight, forcing airlines to divert flights to avoid falling debris.
While Elon Musk’s company successfully recreated its prior feat of catching a first-stage booster as it returned to Earth on Thursday, its new-generation uncrewed spacecraft was lost.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “briefly” slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where space vehicle debris was falling, the aviation regulator said.
“Normal operations have resumed,” a spokesperson said.
At least 20 flights changed their routes to avoid potential debris, according to data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24, as footage on social media appeared to show parts of the vehicle reentering the atmosphere over the Caribbean.
Musk said that the breakup of the spacecraft appeared to have been caused by an oxygen or fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall.
“Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area,” Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. “Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.”
Musk earlier acknowledged the mission failure, posting footage of falling debris.
“Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” he said.
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