Explosive Results: The Mayhem Caused by SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Launch

Photo Source - Google

SpaceX's Starship rocket launch failure in Texas on Thursday exposed the potential issues with the program.

[{"selector":"#anim-1c3c73e5-44fd-44f7-9754-e16ff01d1cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.67023018674469%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

The rocket's "flight termination system" functioned as designed, but debris was a major concern.

[{"selector":"#anim-27324d72-6d0e-4db4-a90c-6c8b0b884539 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.59501408247901%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

The world's biggest and most powerful rocket reportedly caused serious mayhem during its first launch.

[{"selector":"#anim-6b4be915-a0d9-4ebd-a542-cdd9d7ab3533 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-58.125231971718975%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

The SpaceX rocket launch explosion showered debris over a large region, shaking homes and covering nearby Port Isabel with brown grime for miles.

[{"selector":"#anim-8b376b5a-1976-4ba7-94a2-f4bd74b91d4a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-58.113891245843696%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

Residents reported that the rocket's impact was felt for miles, and homes shook from the explosion.

[{"selector":"#anim-c6f2cf99-c9da-4f4a-8cf1-4ba25af41f52 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.607136743522654%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

The debris was mentioned as a thick, granular sand that covered most of Port Isabel.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5bd7b3d-19bc-4d46-b86c-9de2d35f67cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.707644306994936%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Google

The Cameron County Emergency Management Division said that the debris was sand and soil from the SpaceX launch.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a58bb69-8d28-4e6b-8e4d-43e21596b308 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(71.87499982933859%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

SpaceX's fully-integrated Starship launch vehicle blasted off from SpaceX's Starbase test facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20.

[{"selector":"#anim-82a4bc32-6d76-44bd-a5e3-9ec468c7ad39 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.46977746395435%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

The rocket travelled for just over four minutes on its first orbital test flight before an automated system initiated a destructive abort procedure and caused the rocket to explode.

[{"selector":"#anim-e62455c3-3478-40aa-91da-9b8bb2f3e874 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.55180869624824%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google