The Supreme Stage Prototype of Spacex, designated ship 36, exploded in southeastern Texas shortly before midnight local time on June 18 during routine preparations for an upcoming test flight.
SpaceX is in the middle of preparation for the next Starship integrated test, known as Flight 10. The last several trials have not gone well, but this prototype has never even left Earth. The explosion – as shown in performance images of Nasaspaceflight.com – found at the Massey facility of Spacex, a test site located a few miles from the launch mountain at Starbase, Texas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71AWKBT3_TS
The 171-foot-tall (52-meter) starship upper stage “experienced a major anomaly during a test stand at Starbase,” SpaceX said in a Statement On X. “Security clear area around the site was maintained during the operation and all employees are safe and calculated.” The Starbase team coordinates with local authorities to manage the aftermath of the incident, SpaceX said, adding that while the company reported no threat to nearby communities, it prompted the public to leave the area, as security measures are implemented.
Elon Musk, Director General of Spacex, in a few hours after the incident on X, pushing the incident as “Just scratch. “He elaborate Plus this -morning, saying that the early data “suggests nitrogenic COPV [composite overwrapped pressure vessel] In the load bay failed under its proof pressure, “and that if this proves to be the case, it is the” first time ever for this design. “COPV is a light tank made of compound fibers wrapped around a thin lining to store high -pressure fluids, According to to NASA. No further details are known but as Spacenews draws attentionStarship was prepared for a static fire test, and the blast occurred before the rocket had a chance to ignite its raptor engines.
A councilor of June 18 of the Federal Aviation Administration showed June 29 as a possible date for flight 10, but that seems unlikely now. SpaceX is a bit of a decline, with this incident adding to the heap of recent counterattacks. Flight 7 in January 2024 Experienced Propel filtering and fire triggered by unexpected vibrations in the propulsion system. In March, Flight 8 was Cut off By hardware failure in one of the Raptor motors, while Flight 9 in May successfully reached space, but Liko led to loss of control and the vehicle split During re -entry.
The SpaceX starship is built to carry people and load to the Moon, Mars and other destinations around the solar system. It is a key part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027, and is central to Elon Musk’s stated goal of colonization of Mars.
