SpaceX’s Starship explosion raises concerns over air traffic safety
SpaceX's latest Starship broke apart just nine minutes into a test flight, scattering debris and causing flight disruptions. Airports in Florida were forced to pause operations as the impact risk extended as far south as the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands.
The launch took place last week at 5:30 p.m. CT from SpaceX’s Starbase complex in Boca Chica, Texas. This marked the eighth test flight for Starship.
Roughly two minutes after liftoff, SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster successfully separated from the Starship’s upper stage and began its return to the launch site. However, less than 10 minutes into the flight, the upper-stage vehicle encountered issues as it continued to orbit, ultimately leading to the spacecraft breaking apart.
The blast scattered debris across a wide area, causing aircraft operations to be halted.
According to Ruth Stilwell, the Executive Director of Aerospace Policy Solution LLC, the Starship launch was an experimental test with heightened awareness of potential issues.
A hazard area was prepared in advance to quickly alert air traffic control and reroute aircraft if needed. Thanks to years of experience with frequent launches, the system is agile and can respond rapidly.
Stillwell said, “the first thing that happens is the anomaly is detected, and everyone goes into action to get those notifications out very, very quickly to the air traffic community, to get the instructions out to the pilots.”
However, economic impacts were felt, with flight delays in Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale due to the response. While the response was timely, Ruth said it is important to prevent these incidents from happening rather than being dependent on response time. Plus, everyone has access to the skies, but according to Stillwell, it can sometimes feel competitive.
“The airspace is a national asset, and the job of the government is to balance the interest of the competing parties,” Stillwell said. “One thing that we saw with the increase in commercialization of space launch is that there was more tension between different types of airspace users.”
What’s ahead for the future of funding science at NASA
This week, NASA announced a phased approach to a reduction in force or RIF. NASA is closing its Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy; the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, along with reducing their workforce.
The official statement from NASA’s news chief Cheryl Warner said “To optimize our workforce, and in compliance with an Executive Order, NASA is beginning its phased approach to a reduction in force, known as a RIF. A small number of individuals received notification Monday they are a part of NASA’s RIF. If they’re eligible, those employees may opt to participate in the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, or VERA, or complete the RIF process.”
The Planetary Society is also warning of proposed cuts to NASA’s science division that it called “extinction level cuts.” Casey Drier, the Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, said extinction is a symbolic term of how if these cuts are enforced, it would wipe out current and future missions at NASA.
“NASA would have to turn off dozens, if not more, perfectly good science missions,” Drier said. “NASA has nearly 100 active science missions, and to turn them off, because we just decide we don't want to hear them anymore...It's an extinction level event, and we just wipe out all sorts of very productive, good missions that are paying back the taxpayer investment.”
In addition to the missions, the scientists behind the scenes would also face consequences. Drier said the science funding at NASA is not replicated at any other science agency.
“There's no one else, except for NASA, who then pays scientists to understand what we have just collected,” Drier said. “To train the future generation of scientists, engineers and technicians to work on these types of capabilities…So, this goes away. They go away too.”
People like Jared Isaacman, who was nominated to be the next NASA Administrator, denied these rumors. However, Drier believes these rumors are more than just tell-tales.
“I'd say they're aligned with what has been stated before by the people who are running these offices now, and they're in line with the overall thrust of Doge and the White House approach to staffing and spending,” Drier said. “It’s something to be very concerned about…my organization and others, we want to have this conversation now, because I think it's worth exploring.”
