SpaceX has revealed that efforts to recover debris from its Starship spacecraft explosion in Texas last week have been hindered by trespassers, complicating cleanup operations. The dramatic explosion, caused by a “major anomaly,” scattered debris across a wide area, including parts of Mexico, leading the company to request federal assistance from Mexican authorities to regain access and secure the wreckage.
SpaceX emphasized that the debris remains its tangible property, but unauthorized individuals entering private property have delayed retrieval. The firm has offered resources and support to local officials to expedite the cleanup .
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed an ongoing investigation into possible environmental contamination in Tamaulipas state, pledging a legal review to determine if international laws were breached.
This incident follows a string of Starship testing failures earlier this year, with similar explosions in March and January dispersing debris across the Caribbean and causing minor damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These recurring anomalies have drawn heightened scrutiny from global regulators and international stakeholders.
