Environmental Damage and Federal Investigation Follow SpaceX Rocket Explosion

SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during its first orbital launch, causing extensive environmental damage to the launch pad and surrounding areas. The explosion spread concrete up to three-quarters of a mile away, with some debris reaching as far as six-and-a-half miles north of the launch pad. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service documented that the debris cloud was made of pulverized concrete, and some pieces hit the ground so hard they were submerged in the sand. SpaceX's video of the launch confirmed the extent of the debris spread, showing some concrete launching into the Gulf of Mexico.