A recent Starship test flight explosion above the Caribbean has left a small island nation, Turks and Caicos, to deal with the aftermath. The blast scattered debris over the region, forcing local flights to be delayed or diverted for safety. Residents are now clearing up the space junk that has turned up near homes, businesses, and beaches.
The company, SpaceX, had advised people not to touch or pick up any debris as it may be hazardous. However, some residents, including a car rental service owner, were left waiting for help after calling the company’s hotline. The company took over a week to respond, saying it would take days before anyone could check out the debris.
SpaceX has since met with local officials and warned residents to wear gloves when collecting their junk. However, many residents are upset that they have been left to clean up the mess without proper communication from the company about the risks of the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously required SpaceX to map out hazard areas for its launches. The agency said that the Turks and Caicos government was made aware of the potential hazard, but no Caribbean islands exceeded the threshold set by the FAA.
While there were no injuries reported from the explosion, there is concern about the environmental impact on delicate coastal ecosystems. SpaceX’s rapid iterative development process has raised questions about its safety protocols and whether it will lead to more disasters like this one in the future.
Source: https://autos.yahoo.com/latest-starship-explosion-trashes-poor-133000969.html