SpaceX Starship 7 Explosion from FL370

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No-Milk-874@reddit

Honestly, I have no idea what starship is actually achieving here. We had space shuttle, the technology to do it right is proven, this is just fluff.

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Starship will be able to carry over 5x more to LEO than the Space Shuttle. It will also be able to refuel in orbit and leave Earth orbit. It will also be fully reusable. It’s not even close to comparable to the space shuttle

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Wingnut150@reddit

Except for one slight hiccup to all that...

It hasn't made one orbit yet.

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Skyguy21@reddit

Starship easily could have made orbit on several of its prior flights but they chose not to in the interest of mission safety

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Wingnut150@reddit

Yeah, the thing is...

I don't believe you.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Physics doesn't care about your feelings.

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Wingnut150@reddit

Hey, you know what happened on the 7th flight of Saturn V??

Apollo 12.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

That's nice. NASA used a development approach of massive pre-flight testing and very limited test flights. SpaceX is using the approach that prototypes are cheap and you might as well launch them and see what happens instead of scrapping them.

And that has nothing to do with the original comment you made denying physics. What Apollo accomplished has nothing to do with the indisputable fact of physics that Starship could have made orbit but was deliberately held back.

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Wingnut150@reddit

Uh huh

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Like I said, physics doesn't care about your feelings.

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Skyguy21@reddit

Cool, I can't do much about that so good luck!

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ergzay@reddit

It hasn't made one orbit yet.

It hasn't even attempted to get to orbit yet...

I don't quite get where people get this idea that it's been trying and failing to get to orbit over and over.

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Ron-Swanson-Mustache@reddit

It's been orbital several times. It's achieved orbital velocity the last 3 or 4 flights. They never circulized the orbit in case they couldn't relight the raptors. If they couldn't get them restarted then they couldn't do a de-orbit burn, meaning they couldn't control where it came back down.

Instead they put it on an orbit whose perigee was inside the earth so they would always know where it would re-enter.

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yourlocalFSDO@reddit

They haven’t even attempted to make it to orbit yet. It’s still early in the development cycle.

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Wingnut150@reddit

Yeah. You know what New Glenn did today?

Made orbit.

Didn't get the catch, but didn't divert alot a planes and cause a shit ton of ground delays either.

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yourlocalFSDO@reddit

You mean the same thing SpaceX did in 2008 with Falcon 1? And in 2010 with Falcon 9? And in 2018 with Falcon Heavy? The only thing that has kept Starship from entering orbit is their decision to keep the previous flights suborbital for testing.

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Wingnut150@reddit

Uh huh.

That and all the, you know, blowing the fuck up.

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No-Milk-874@reddit

BUT ON PAPER ITS WAY BETTER THAN SHUTTLE!!

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yourlocalFSDO@reddit

I mean we can ignore the facts if you like. But the fact is nothing physically prevented Starship from entering orbit on flights 3-6 other than the decision not to for testing purposes.

Look how many times NASA failed trying to first get into space. Look how many times SpaceX failed trying to land Falcon 9. They are doing things that have never been done before. Things are going to break to learn along the way. That’s how we progress.

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No-Milk-874@reddit

Correct, space shuttle actually did the things it claimed to do.

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yourlocalFSDO@reddit

The space shuttle was never capable of doing what it was originally planned to do. It was never, in any way, quickly or economically reusable. Falcon 9 has already far and away surpassed the economical reusability of the shuttle and starship will eventually do the same. It’s still very early in the development cycle

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The_Reelest@reddit

I appreciate the factual info you are trying to provide here.

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Skyguy21@reddit

I respect your dedication to trying to provide facts and context to correct his claims but I don't think it's working. He's chosen a side before any of this even happened and is sticking to it for some reason.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Sometimes it did what it was claimed to do, after scaling back those claims once reality hit. Sometimes it exploded instead.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Honestly, I have no idea what starship is actually achieving here.

Massively improved payload capacity, massively improved reliability, massively improved turnaround time. The shuttle was expensive, unreliable, and suicidally dangerous garbage built to nonsensical requirements and operated far beyond its useful life due to our government's refusal to fund a better alternative.

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No-Milk-874@reddit

Your typing this in a thread featuring a video of Starship shredding itself through active airlanes.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Do you not understand the difference between an unmanned test flight of a new prototype and a dysfunctional mess of a "finished" spacecraft that killed two crews as a result of egregious flaws that never should have been accepted?

(No, you don't, you're too busy hating Musk to care about facts.)

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yeeeeeaaaaabuddy@reddit

The space shuttle was dangerous and shitty

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aftcg@reddit

Don't forget unreliable!

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Ron-Swanson-Mustache@reddit

Hence the school yard joke when the shuttle was flying: What does NASA stand for?

Need Another Seven Astronauts

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ShuffleStepTap@reddit

Full vehicle reusability and cost reductions on a scale that is orders of magnitude better than Space Shuttle could ever hope to reach. Musk is a complete fuckknuckle, but SpaceX engineers are achieving stuff that is genuinely revolutionary.

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lunakid@reddit

...except the Shuttle was a devastatingly expensive and clumsy way to kill the crew of not one, but two missions. The highest death tall of any space programs ever.

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aftcg@reddit

Pffft. Reliability. The shuttle had terrible reliability compared to the Falcon systems. The idea is to get Heavy to be as reliable or better.

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wrench978@reddit

Very cool. And the reason why we have huge swaths of airspace blocked off and why you had a reroute

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Nice_Visit4454@reddit

I see a lot of people talking about how not enough airspace was blocked off and how irresponsible this is.

In my opinion, I don't think it's feasible to block off the entire orbital plane of the Earth's airspace for every rocket launch.

Everything in aerospace and aviation is about accepting the risk and taking steps to mitigate, address, and deal with the risks as best as you can. It's a core part of our training right from the beginning.

I think after 6 successful (as in, the ship didn't break up so early) flights the FAA was fair to approve a repeat test using the same flight plan. Maybe we'll see some changes to how they manage the airspace, and I think that would be prudent to at least investigate what could've been done better.

Spaceflight will become normal in a few decades, safety will improve, and over time I'm sure the FAA and other agencies will learn how to best mitigate the risks of aviation and rocket traffic sharing airspace.

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aftcg@reddit

Wait, spaceflight isn't normal?

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ergzay@reddit

Wait, spaceflight isn't normal?

Given that every single flight requires authorization from the FAA, no it's not normal. There's no such thing as a rocket type certification.

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aftcg@reddit

Huh. There were 275 space flight launches in 2024. Some of them get reused. One system has a better reliability record than the space shuttle. 58 people went into space. Kinda seems normal, we've been doing this since the 50's.

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ergzay@reddit

Normal will be when you can go to space as a vacation option and most people aren't shocked upon hearing it.

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aftcg@reddit

Ah, so when it reaches the point of a public service, like spirit, greyhound, or cellphones.

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Nice_Visit4454@reddit

Not as normal as aviation. ;)

There are around \~100k commercial flights per day globally. There are only \~180 launches per year in recent years, averaging 15–20 launches per month.

They sure got a ways to go!

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dbhyslop@reddit

Worth noting that about 130 out of those 180 launches last year was SpaceX

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wlonkly@reddit

Gotta wait til we've got a century under our belt!

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flyindogtired@reddit

I wonder what the airlines will have to say to space X about this. This will have cost them millions in cancellation, Fuel, and crew compensation.

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TrineonX@reddit

This was a scheduled airspace closure, and would have been closed regardless of whether the rocket was a success or not.

Do the airlines lose their shit everytime there is a TFR that requires them to alter their plans?

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Hiddencamper@reddit

They activated some additional zones. This definitely happened later in flight than normal and had a very long debris field.

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flyindogtired@reddit

Not correct. A big swath of airspace closed after the explosion, due to the explosion. Lots of already airborne planes held and diverted.

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Hiddencamper@reddit

I agree. Normally issues with launches happen earlier in the sequence and are terminated in the warning zone. I do think there will be some reviews and assessments now, especially because starship is more steel than aluminum and won’t burn up easily from a high altitude re-entry. One video I saw even suggested that maybe the flight termination system should be delayed if the rocket engines are shut down and let the rocket ballistically crash instead of making a debris field.

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TrineonX@reddit

Also important to remember that these are not routine flights, even if they follow the same flight path.

Every one has flown a slightly different hardware iteration, meaning that most of these craft are prototypes, and certainly experimental. They are also flying different maneuvers and trying new things each time.

I don't think that this was reckless, but it was hardly a routine flight, even with 6 prior launches.

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Neoupa2002@reddit

Going to be a very long night for airline OCCs...

SJU just ran out of parking spots

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flyindogtired@reddit

SJU looks like normal ops on FR24.

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mrboxeebox@reddit

Air returns and diversions. Lots

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flyindogtired@reddit

Is there any evidence of that besides random posters saying it on Reddit ?

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wrench978@reddit

You’re asking for evidence of SJU running out of gates? I can confirm. San Juan center controller. We were not allowing airlines to land at San Juan. Freight and GA only.

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crazyhorse45@reddit

Goodspeed thanks you :)

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flyindogtired@reddit

Ah okay! Thanks for the response. Yall had a tough day. I left just before the pothole thing happened. Was supposed to come back through today but it cancelled now. Hope everything gets back to semi normal for you today.

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alex_and_company@reddit

At least a few flight crews timed out (including mine) and others within airspace needed to divert to refuel or pick up new crew.

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wrench978@reddit

I don’t know that I would call it normal ops. But traffic is moving again. Between the one active runway closing for a couple hours for a pothole, and the rocket launch, it’s been a rough day down here.

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Trump-Pe-Vance@reddit

Flying with Miami center and spirit was getting worried if the airport would open by 5:30…

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crazyhorse45@reddit

SJU had an absolutely terrible day yesterday. 2 hour closure due to the only open runway having emergency repairs and then the spacecraft mishap causing all gates to be occupied for ~2 hours haha

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coolkirk1701@reddit

They just pulled me off my desk to run testing on our new software. So I’m at home half-cackling and half-hoping the people at work aren’t having too bad of a time

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GrabtharsHumber@reddit

That is a lot of litter.

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ctilvolover23@reddit

Not really.

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graphixRbad@reddit

Yeah that’s why all the planes got diverted 🤣

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Skyguy21@reddit

Most will burn up, rest likely in the ocean. Literally a drop in the total mass of garbage we as a society expell into the ocean everyday

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SexDefendersUnited@reddit

Damn, you could tell people this is recording alien signs

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Wingnut150@reddit

So whadda guys think the Feds response is going to be on this? I don't see another rapid launch happening soon

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phxees@reddit

I believe that is what is supposed to happen when a stage fails. If anything hit or could have hit a building that would be an issue. If not then the regulators will just collect information and make sure they have an understanding of what happened and if they can fix it.

The feds would allow SpaceX or other companies to test their flight termination systems intentionally.

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Wingnut150@reddit

I suspect their investigation will likely take some time, a debris field that forced diversions and ground stops is going to be seen a s a huge issue.

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hellswaters@reddit

I agree, I think this should be investigated, at least to find out ways to ensure flight safety.

With the new administration, I have my doubts that it will be. SpaceX will say the cause is determined, and the larger problem ignored.

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ergzay@reddit

It's a legit question, asshats. Stop licking Elmos boot for five damn seconds.

I mean if you put that in your post, not sure how you expect people to give you any answer that isn't maximally pessimistic.

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Chuckolator@reddit

Come Monday, they're going to blame it on woke.

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yurmamma@reddit

Apartheid Clyde is 99% of the way through his plan to capture the government regulators, after Jan 20 he’ll be doing whatever he feels like

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Wingnut150@reddit

...shit.

You're right

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Bond_42@reddit

Heard you on the radio. I’ll post my video from FL450

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heeeeeather@reddit

Are you sure you were at FL450? I only saw people as high as FL430.

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Bond_42@reddit

Very sure. Lol. I was flying it. I was hundreds of miles to the east. Was about 200 miles south of Bermuda at the time heading to Antigua.

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heeeeeather@reddit

Ohh! Were you in New York or Miami’s airspace?

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Bond_42@reddit

New York

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heeeeeather@reddit

I’m guessing because of your altitude is how you got such a neat video!

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wighty@reddit

Edit your post and post here too!

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VanDenBroeck@reddit

Oversight provided by the Directorate of Galactic Explosions aka DOGE.

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heeeeeather@reddit

Hey! What was your callsign?

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AleirbagPR@reddit

Found this reel on ig too

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE6GXMtMiJF/?igsh=MXQzbm5sM3g1YWlzYQ==

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HopeforJoy313@reddit

Why didn't we see this when the Challenger exploded?

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mrbubbles916@reddit

Challenger exploded at 46,000 feet. Not even close to space and not anywhere near the velocity need to be in space. It blew up pretty shortly after launch.

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NorthRider@reddit

1 not every one cameras every where 2 explosion happened at wildly different altitude 3 different kind of explosion

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HopeforJoy313@reddit

2 and 3 kinda makes sense. If you've ever had a job training AI, people do record EVERYTHING. It's sickening

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NorthRider@reddit

1 makes more sence now that I corrected it with mite coffee in my system

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vegarsc@reddit

Note to self: If going to space, order first stage from SpaceX and second stage from Blue Origin.

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Vihurah@reddit

That is unbelievable footage. i didnt expect a video of the breakup to surface, especially after last night when the BONG booster met a similar fate.

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Skyguy21@reddit

The BONG shattered before it could relight? 😢

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barukatang@reddit

The Scott manly video showed a couple frames of what looked like engine relight and like 500+mph of deceleration then loss of signal.

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Vihurah@reddit

Sounds like it. They never said a word about it after Meco. Theres Always next time.

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Ron-Swanson-Mustache@reddit

There was a couple seconds of video of it relighting before going dark again.

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Skyguy21@reddit

I ruined a party once doing that 😒

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Unhappy_Feature_105@reddit

Had to put on the brown pants for that one!!

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ADPBill_E@reddit

hums the Helldivers main drop theme

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deew123123@reddit

Nice dude!

Here's a couple of pictures from FL430 just north of Haiti.

https://imgur.com/a/J8T2qQ0

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checkyourspeed@reddit (OP)

That was crazy!

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_Go_Ham_Box_Hotdog_@reddit

Unscheduled Rapid Disassembly.

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prex10@reddit

Looks like a ton of flights in the area are getting turned around 180 and heading to Florida. Mass diversions

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flyindogtired@reddit

Where do you see that. FR24 looks pretty normal

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Turbulent_Love6399@reddit

Well, I was stopped and held over San Juan as well as literally every other aircraft in a stack over deake intersection. Airspace from St. Marteen to Miami was closed.

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flyindogtired@reddit

Thanks for the response. I just missed all the drama.

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prex10@reddit

There was a couple posts on r/aviation showing flights turning around.

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trying_to_adult_here@reddit

Wow, ATC had reroutes out to avoid areas of the gulf and Caribbean because of the launch but that still seems quite close.

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ergzay@reddit

I'll note that distances from space objects are deceptive because they're way higher than aircraft fly. When they're still glowing hot like this they're going to be at probably FL160 or something.

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trying_to_adult_here@reddit

Do you mean FL1600? Because the title says the video was FL370 which is way higher than FL160.

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ergzay@reddit

Sorry yes, I typoed. Fixed now.

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8349932@reddit

Blowing up our tax dollars one rocket at a time.

Dude hypes up mars but can’t safely make it to low earth orbit. Artemis program is fucked.

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ergzay@reddit

Blowing up our tax dollars one rocket at a time.

Starship isn't paid for by tax dollars.

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MostNinja2951@reddit

Dude hypes up mars but can’t safely make it to low earth orbit

You realize SpaceX is already routinely launching payloads to LEO, right? That this is an experimental new design going through its test phase, with the expectation that a few of them will blow up informatively? Musk is an idiot but this is engineering 101 stuff you're not understanding.

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aftcg@reddit

What tax money is he getting for Starship? Like a tax break like the ones Tesla gets?

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phxees@reddit

NASA wants a vehicle capable of a lunar landing and takeoff. SpaceX is one of the companies with a contract to make that happen.

SpaceX won’t get any additional money due to this failure. Although there’s likely a path to get more funding if they get really close and still need more cash. Seeing that SpaceX is going to make a lot of money from Starlink and the ability to take much larger payloads into space I don’t think they’ll ask for more cash.

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aftcg@reddit

I see

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docyande@reddit

I know Elon is a blowhard but this is like the entire point of a fixed price contract, it's no extra tax dollars if they blow it up.

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clocks212@reddit

Musk is a huge piece of shit human being, but spacex is pretty indisputably the best organization at launching rockets on earth, probably ever.

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impactshock@reddit

Where do you suspect the fragments hit after landfall?

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

At about 17:50 EST (2250 UTC) some other pilot said on Miami Center: “did anyone just saw that explosion from the North?!”

We were flying close to Santo Domingo airspace at that moment, and about 2-3 minutes after, there it was.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

P.D: To that other colleague that has a better video, post it here or DM me on Reddit. All credits to him.

This subreddit doesn’t allow videos, so here’s the link:

https://imgur.com/a/ZH6HNkt

Please downvote this comment until it collapses.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.

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Legomyeggo8430@reddit

Holy shit it’s the autobots

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rarehugs@reddit

Incredible sight. Was there a NOTAM filed on this? I wouldn't want to continue a heading under that debris.

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XGC75@reddit

They block off what's called a "range" and do a range check with a number of means before clearing the ship for liftoff.

It should be a TFR but I looked it up on foreflight and couldn't see it

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JustAnotherNumber941@reddit

There were associated TFRs, Hazard Areas, and Debris Response Areas.

TFRs and Hazard Areas are activated on all launches. Debris Response Areas are activated only in the event of a mishap. DRAs got activated today.

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wighty@reddit

Elon and co going to make some ICD 10 codes (medical diagnosis) useful: https://www.icd10data.com/search?s=spacecraft

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livebeta@reddit

It's just be denied as a preexisting condition

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Butchy1992@reddit

Bwoah

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YourFriendlyCFI@reddit

Saw the explosion today flying up from the carribean. Miami center issued holds for traffic heading through. Pretty crazy

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crazyhorse45@reddit

Was crazy to be flying and hear from Center "attentional all aircraft due to space vehicle mishap, we have a debris field from xxxx to xxx to xxx, standby for individual instructions to vacate the debris field"

Hahaha what?? Am I in it?

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wlonkly@reddit

a mishap, a woops, an oopsie-daisy

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Eldias@reddit

"Mishap" is the term of air for accidents in aviation, not pr babble.

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poser765@reddit

God, the UFO nuts have been going. Absolutely bat shit since all the drones in Jersey. This is going to make them lose their minds.

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SupermanFanboy@reddit

Control probably glued their eyes to the screen to check if they've lost someone. Last time someone announced an explosion it was TWA 800

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PullDoNotRotate@reddit

Yes, this is the dystopia I wanted.

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Skyguy21@reddit

Pretty 😍

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Rodgerexplosion@reddit

Starship sure does blow up a lot

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biggy-cheese03@reddit

Holy crap I bet that got center’s attention

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Archer337@reddit

We were going north through MIA when they said something along the lines of "we're going to start issuing holds to all south bound aircraft for space launch debris." That was the first time I heard that one. Then yea we listened to 6 or 7 aircraft get present position holds and they were told they were "indefinite holds at this time".

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