SpaceX Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles

[Warpy]

8. Most of that stuff has been identified as the pulverized launch pad

which wasn't built to take the kind of pressure those multiple engines generated.

The rocket itself was blown up far out to sea because the stages didn't separate, another thing that was rushed because Musk was in such a huge hurry to test that first stage.

Most of the team expected it to blow up on the launch pad, one remarking during the live stream that anything above the level of the gantry was a successful launch.

This needs to be grounded until Musk realizes there is a whole system and that the first stage rockets are only a part of that system and he can't cut corners on safety and he can't rush his team.

Decent discussion as well as dust analysis from Port Isabel at https://www.sciencealert.com/spacexs-starship-is-grounded-after-reducing-its-launchpad-to-rubble