A few hours ago, SpaceX was setting up the Starship 36 prototype for a static fire test, the ignition of the six Raptor engines on the ground in preparation for what was supposed to be the 10th launch test to be conducted together with the Super Heavy rocket. It was just after 11 pm in Texas when Starship 36 exploded. Even the static fire tests are conducted in safe conditions, so the SpaceX staff was well away from the prototype, and no one was injured. It must be said that mishaps can happen more easily with prototypes, but it’s clear that, at best, there will be further delays on the development schedule of a spacecraft that has already suffered three failures in the latest flight tests.
According to SpaceX’s plans, the 10th flight test of the Super Heavy rocket and Starship was probably supposed to take place at the end of June. The hope for Elon Musk’s company was to finally be able to get the Block 2 version of Starship up and running after the many problems suffered in the three flight tests in which it was launched. Further delays are now expected, with a timescale that is yet to be assessed.
NASASpaceflight is one of the websites that follow SpaceX’s activities, and they were also filming and commenting on what was supposed to be a routine operation with the static fire test of the Starship 36 prototype. It was 11 pm in Texas, in the complex known as Massey Outpost, near the Boca Chica Starbase from where the prototypes are launched. At a certain point, Starship 36 exploded, causing a significant fire despite the limited amount of methane and liquid oxygen in the tanks.
It’s still a prototype and therefore the risk of accidents is greater than that of a vehicle in normal service, but it’s clear that the explosion of Starship 36 will have consequences that are yet to be assessed on the development of a spacecraft that has already shown several problems. An investigation will have to establish the causes of the mishap and at that point, it will be necessary to evaluate if changes to the project will be needed to prevent this type of problem from recurring.
In the best-case scenario, SpaceX will face further delays in the development of its Starship after the problems encountered in the flight tests with the Block 2 version. Elon Musk has promoted his new spacecraft as a solution for NASA’s Artemis program missions starting as early as 2027, but he has seemed decidedly optimistic from the beginning. It’s inevitable that the negative test results and this incident will raise new doubts about the project. It remains to be seen what the new timetable will be for SpaceX to try to overcome these problems.
