The skies over Guantánamo were illuminated this Thursday by the glowing remnants of the Starship Flight 7 rocket from SpaceX, which disintegrated in the atmosphere, creating an impressive light show over the Caribbean.
"This I happened to record in Guantánamo, a light that disintegrated in the sky and was moving at high speed," wrote a user on Facebook who shared a video of the event.
Other internet users quickly began to speculate about the origin of the strange light. "Hey, what about that light we saw in the sky about an hour and a half ago? Was it a plane exploding or were the Martians involved?" asked one, while others joked about "the end of the world."
The phenomenon was the result of the failure of SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 mission, which had been successfully launched from the SpaceX base in Boca Chica, Texas, at 4:37 p.m. CST (22:37 GMT).
However, twenty minutes after takeoff, the Starship rocket broke apart during its test flight, causing its debris to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate in a visual spectacle that could be seen from various locations, including the Turks and Caicos Islands and the eastern Caribbean, even becoming visible in parts of Cuba.
The incident was confirmed by SpaceX, which acknowledged the loss of the spacecraft in a statement; however, the company highlighted an important milestone: the successful return of the Super Heavy booster, which was successfully recovered at the launch site.
The mission had been a significant test for SpaceX, which was attempting to deploy a payload of Starlink satellites and conduct experiments aimed at the reuse of rocket components.
The test flight of Starship, considered the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, also aimed to launch a payload of ten replicas of Starlink internet satellites and conduct tests to improve future launches.
Although the mission was not completely successful, SpaceX stated that it will continue its efforts to refine the technology and move closer to its goals of space expansion.
Meanwhile, images of the sky illuminated by the remnants of the rocket continue to circulate on social media, becoming a viral phenomenon that has captured the attention of Cubans and people from other parts of the Caribbean and Latin America.
Frequently Asked Questions about SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 and its Impact on Cuba
What happened with SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 rocket over the skies of Guantánamo?
The glowing remnants of SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 disintegrated in the atmosphere, creating an impressive light show over the Caribbean. This spectacle was visible from various locations, including the Turks and Caicos Islands and the eastern Caribbean, and could even be seen in parts of Cuba.
What was the cause of the disintegration of the Starship Flight 7 rocket?
The disintegration of the Starship Flight 7 rocket was due to a failure during its test flight. Twenty minutes after a successful launch from the SpaceX base in Boca Chica, Texas, the rocket broke apart, causing its debris to re-enter the atmosphere and disintegrate.
What objectives did the Starship Flight 7 mission have before its failure?
The mission of Starship Flight 7 aimed to deploy a payload of Starlink satellites and conduct experiments focused on the reusability of the rocket's components. Although the test flight was not entirely successful, SpaceX highlighted the successful return of the Super Heavy booster.
How has the population of Guantánamo reacted to the phenomenon observed in the sky?
The population of Guantánamo has reacted with surprise and curiosity to the luminous phenomenon in the sky. Users on social media shared videos and images, speculating about the origin of the lights, while others joked about theories such as exploding airplanes or even UFOs.
Filed under:
