SpaceX Urges Caution & Recovery as Hexagonal Heat Shield Tiles Found in Debris of Failed Starship Test Launch
On April 20, SpaceX’s Starship got its first test launch and exploded minutes later.
The explosion caused debris from the rocket to wash up on the shores around the Starbase launch facility in Texas.
Scraps & pieces of the spacecraft have been found by residents in the area, including hexagonal heat shield tiles.
The hexagonal tiles were meant to protect the rocket against heat during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Moreover, any debris from the rocket found anywhere on the planet remains the launch operator’s property, according to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
The rocket reached
an altitude of approximately 40 kilometres before exploding, and debris is likely scattered over a much larger area.
SpaceX has urged people not to handle or retrieve debris by themselves and instead to contact the company.
SpaceX Recovery
Email:
recovery@spacex.com
Hotline:
1-866-623-0234
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