The explosion of a SpaceX rocket on Thursday night has raised concerns that NASA astronauts may remain stranded in space for a longer period—or worse.
SpaceX, the company owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, had been tasked with bringing Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore back home from the International Space Station (ISS) later this month.
However, the failure of the Starship launch has led many to question whether SpaceX is capable of returning the astronauts safely or even as early as March 19, as promised.
SpaceX Raises Concerns
despite the fact that the Starship is an entirely different spacecraft from the one designated to return Williams and Wilmore home this month.
A wave of concern swept through social media.
“Another Starship explosion from Elon Musk’s SpaceX!
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration must stop these flights.
This is the man who wants to bring stranded astronauts home…,” one concerned user posted on X.
Another user wrote:
“The failure of this Starship mission should not be seen as a bad omen for SpaceX mission to rescue the stranded astronauts on the ISS.”
Meanwhile, one user urged Musk to “resign before he hurts someone.”
However, experts told DailyMail.com that the explosion of the Starship spacecraft is not a reason to believe that the Crew-9 Dragon capsule, which will bring the stranded astronauts home, will fail.
Space Travel Technologies
Mike Pravica, a physics professor at the University of Nevada, expressed concerns.
Because he seen that private space travel companies are “taking on more than they can handle when it comes to something as complex and technical as space travel.”
He stated: “Given that Elon Musk and Donald Trump appear to be cutting funding for scientific research in America.
As well as higher education in science and technology, I am deeply concerned about the future of space travel in the United States.”
“Especially when it is led by businessmen rather than scientists and engineers.”
Starship Loses Control
During the past launch, the Starship spacecraft lost control 10 minutes into the mission.
Then it exploded into millions of pieces.
By that it disrupted flights and caused air traffic chaos as debris fell from the sky.
Another user commented, referring to a video showing the spacecraft breaking apart over the Caribbean region.
“I hope this doesn’t happen to the two stranded astronauts.”
Musk’s Admission on X
Musk admitted on X that the spacecraft “failed” during the flight test, saying:
“But we have learned a great deal in building the new ship design and from this flight.”
The rocket launched at 5:30 PM local time from the Starbase site in Boca Chica, Texas.
The booster rocket remained in place as it returned to Earth, landing directly back on the “chopsticks” as intended.
However, just 10 minutes into the flight, which was expected to last about an hour, the rocket began spinning out of control when four of its six engines failed.
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Mocking Comments on SpaceX Failure
“Hello (Mr. President)! I saw that Elon Musk’s rocket exploded—again!
Please don’t let him handle anything for the astronauts.
(NASA) stop this man,” one X user posted shortly after the mission failed.
However, Brian Schmidt, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Case Western Reserve University, told Daily Mail:
“I don’t think there’s any reason to link the Starship failure to a decreased likelihood of mission success for bringing the astronauts back from the ISS.”
Schmidt explained:
“The safety and capabilities of the Dragon capsule have been proven time and again.
And it is the best kind of assurance you can have in space travel.
Going to space is inherently dangerous, and there will always be risks…
But using a proven system and platform is the best way to mitigate those risks.”
