SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Utah man gives first-person account of SpaceX rocket explosion

Jan 21, 2025, 8:52 PM

A Utah man, who was in Turks and Caicos last week when Elon Musk's latest SpaceX rocket blew up ove...

A Utah man, who was in Turks and Caicos last week when Elon Musk's latest SpaceX rocket blew up over the Caribbean, shares what it was like to see it firsthand. (Amy Brown)

(Amy Brown)

SALT LAKE CITY What is it like to witness a rocket explosion? A Utah man, who was in Turks and Caicos last week when Elon Musk’s latest SpaceX rocket blew up over the Caribbean, shares what it was like to see it firsthand. It’s an experience he calls spectacular.

Watch as the rocket debris streaks across the sky. Video after video showed the fire shower from pieces of the SpaceX Starship as it rained down on Turks and Caicos.

“One of the few times, if your life you could say the sky is falling and it really is happening,” North Ogden resident David Evertsen said.

Evertsen just happened to be in Turks and Caicos for business. He first heard the explosion.

“To hear the sonic booms, just rattling the house, eight of them, one after another after another, what is going on?” Evertsen said.

Evertsen says he then went outside and saw the debris falling from the sky, pieces of it landing along the beach.

“You almost sit on under it, you see that it’s a big piece right there,” one man who found a large piece of rocket debris said.

One even impaled the roof of someone’s car. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Evertsen made himself quite a collection. As a self-admitted space and astronomy geek, he finds it fascinating.

“It’s been part of my life for a long time, to have a piece of history, to be part of that is pretty fantastic,” he said.

What may be crazy is this isn’t the first time Evertsen has been in an incredible situation like this. He told us he was also in a war zone, close to two hurricanes, and two tornadoes, he was in Paris during the terrorist attacks, and now this. He said he’s starting to think he may be the common denominator.

KSL 5 TV Live

Science & Technology

STARBASE Hill...

Debbie Worthen

STARBASE Hill program in Utah shuts down due to massive funding reduction

A Department of Defense youth program is the latest victim of budget cuts on Washington’s Capitol Hill, and thousands of Utah children will feel the impact.

4 days ago

This May 18, 1969, photo provided by NASA shows Earth from 36,000 nautical miles away as photograph...

Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

Newly spotted asteroid has a tiny chance of hitting Earth in 2032

A newly discovered asteroid has a tiny chance of smacking Earth in 2032, space agency officials said Wednesday.

7 days ago

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 30: In this photo illustration, social media networking apps are di...

Daniel Woodruff

Utah Senate committee approves requiring app stores to verify users’ ages

Children and smartphones took center stage at the Utah Capitol Tuesday as a Senate committee voted unanimously to require app stores to verify the ages of users.

12 days ago

Former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, second from left, and Bulletin of the Atomic Scienti...

Associated Press

‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight amid threats

Earth is moving closer to destruction, a science-oriented advocacy group said Tuesday as it advanced its famous “Doomsday Clock” to 89 seconds till midnight, the closest it has ever been.

12 days ago

A surprisingly efficient and powerful Chinese AI model has taken the technology industry by storm. ...

David Goldman, CNN

What is DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that shook the tech world?

A surprisingly efficient and powerful Chinese AI model has taken the technology industry by storm. It’s called DeepSeek R1, and it’s rattling nerves on Wall Street.

13 days ago

The exterior of the Salt Lake City Public Library in Salt Lake City on July 27, 2021. Salt Lake Cit...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Salt Lake City eyes this location for the start of Green Loop project

A "linear park" that could circle downtown Salt Lake City within the next decade has taken another step toward reality.

14 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Utah man gives first-person account of SpaceX rocket explosion