SpaceX says debris recovery attempts hindered after Starship explosion
FILE PHOTO: Debris from a SpaceX spacecraft lies partially submerged in the Rio Grande River as a boat navigates nearby, as seen from Matamoros, Mexico, June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Abraham Pineda/File Photo
SpaceX said on Thursday its debris recovery efforts after last week's Starship explosion have been hindered and it has sought cooperation from Mexico, whose president has raised the possibility of legal action against the company.
A massive Starship spacecraft by SpaceX exploded into a dramatic fireball during testing in Texas last week, which Elon Musk's space firm attributed to a "major anomaly."
The Starship rocket appeared to have experienced at least two explosions in rapid succession, lighting up the night sky and sending debris flying, according to video capturing the moment it exploded.
"Despite SpaceX's attempts to recover the anomaly related debris, which is and remains the tangible property of SpaceX, these attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property," the company said in a post on social media platform X.
"We have requested local and federal assistance from the government of Mexico in the recovery," it said, adding that it also has offered resources and assistance in the clean-up.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that her administration is investigating the security and environmental impact of the launch of rockets, particularly for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
A general review is being conducted to determine what international laws are being violated. "From there, we'll start a process, because there is indeed contamination," Sheinbaum had said during a morning press conference.
A Starship spacecraft exploded in space minutes after lifting off from Texas in March, prompting the FAA to halt air traffic in parts of Florida, in a setback for Musk's Mars rocket program.
In January, a Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas, raining debris over Caribbean islands and causing minor damage to a car in the Turks and Caicos Islands. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Poland's Tusk reshuffles cabinet, promotes Sikorski to deputy PM
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks during a press conference announcing changes in his government as his cabinet members stand near him, in Warsaw, Poland, July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki WARSAW - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promoted Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski to deputy prime minister on Wednesday as part of a government reshuffle aimed at stemming a decline in its approval ratings. Sikorski will also keep his post as foreign minister while Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski will become Minister of Finance and Economy, overseeing all economic departments in the centrist, pro-European government, Tusk said. Since nationalist Karol Nawrocki's victory over Tusk's liberal ally Rafal Trzaskowski in June's presidential election, tensions in the ruling Civic Coalition have risen and raised doubt about its future under a veto-wielding president. Tusk's government has steadily declined in opinion polls since mid-2024. This month, the share of government opponents has risen to 48% while the government's support has held steady at 32%, the latest CBOS poll showed. As part of the reshuffle, Milosz Motyka from junior coalition party PSL will head a newly-created energy ministry while the justice ministry, which is seeking to shore up rule of law standards that critics say deteriorated under the previous nationalist government, will be headed by judge Waldemar Zurek. REUTERS
Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Tariffs and conflicts loom large over Merz and Macron's working dinner
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, at a hotel prior to an E3 meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, June 24, 2025. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo BERLIN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host French President Emmanuel Macron for talks over dinner in Berlin on Wednesday, with Europe's battle to soften incoming U.S. tariffs and support for Ukraine expected to top a packed agenda. The meeting, taking place at Villa Borsig in the German capital's leafy outskirts, brings together the leaders of Europe's two largest economies as trade negotiations approach President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline. "Of course, the question of how we react to the threat of tariffs on August 1 is a central focus, and also the security situation in Ukraine," Merz's chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, told the ZDF broadcaster. "The fact that the agenda is so full shows that the relationship between Germany and France is not only good but extremely important," Frei said, adding that a number of other topics would be discussed. Conservative Merz has courted a more unified front with France on a range of issues, from European defence to diplomacy with Iran, and criticised his predecessor Olaf Scholz for neglecting Germany's relations with its neighbour. However, sticking points remain. Germany's signature was missing from a letter signed by France and 27 other Western countries calling on Israel to immediately end the war. Merz has been increasingly critical of Israel but his chief of staff said the letter was not clear enough that Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks had triggered the conflict. Merz and Macron are also expected to discuss the FCAS Franco-German-Spanish fighter jet project, whose future has been called into question amid a growing feud with Europe's Airbus over control of the program. REUTERS
Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Russian delegation heads to Turkey for talks with Ukraine, news agencies say
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Russian delegation head and presidential adviser, Vladimir Medinsky walks, after a meeting at Ciragan Palace on the day of the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, in Istanbul, Turkey, June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo MOSCOW - Russian negotiators are flying to Turkey for the first peace talks with Ukraine in more than seven weeks, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday. State agency TASS said talks would take place later on Wednesday in Istanbul. Data from tracking site Flightradar24 showed the plane used by Russian delegation chief Vladimir Medinsky to fly to previous talks in Istanbul had taken off from Moscow. The warring sides held two previous rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But they have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war. U.S. President Donald Trump last week threatened heavy new sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its exports unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days. But three sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin, unfazed by Trump's ultimatum, would keep on fighting in Ukraine until the West engaged on his terms for peace, and that his territorial demands may widen as Russian forces advance. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore New online channel for public to report illegal ride-hailing services Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him
