Club Med, a Disney Cruise and an Exploding Starship: SpaceX Used Bystander Videos to Track Falling Debris

When SpaceX's massive Starship rocket disintegrated over the Caribbean last year, the internet was flooded with videos from airline passengers, island tourists, and locals. These videos, including those taken from Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise ships, as well as a Club Med resort, played a crucial role in SpaceX's efforts to track and count pieces of debris following the explosion.

A report obtained by ProPublica through a Freedom of Information Act request, released by the Federal Aviation Administration, outlines the role these videos played. The report includes maps pinpointing the locations of the footage, aiding SpaceX in understanding the trajectory of debris after the blast. The FAA requires such reports in the aftermath of a rocket failure, detailing the location of hazardous debris.

This information is vital for the FAA's safety measures, as they must preventatively close airspace during launches and quickly clear areas following test flight mishaps. SpaceX has been seeking to launch Starship up to 76 times a year from Cape Canaveral, Florida, making the safety of air traffic corridors increasingly important.