SpaceX Starship explode over Atlantic Ocean on Flight Test 7 (with videos)
Falling SpaceX debris is a common occurrence. Below are more incidents:
Om January 16, 2025, a SpaceX Starship prototype launched from Texas failed in space shortly after liftoff. The spacecraft, carrying a test payload of mock satellites, lost communication with mission control eight minutes into the flight. This failure led to disruptions in commercial airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico due to potential falling debris.
SpaceX has experienced several incidents where its satellites and rockets have re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. On July 11, 2024, a Falcon 9 rocket malfunctioned during launch, causing 20 Starlink satellites to be placed into an incorrect, low orbit. These satellites eventually re-entered the atmosphere and burned up.
Additionally, Qantas flights between Johannesburg and Sydney have been delayed due to falling debris from SpaceX rockets re-entering Earth’s atmosphere over the southern Indian Ocean. These delays, lasting from one to six hours, occur because the debris coordinates change at short notice, forcing Qantas to adjust flight paths.
