Feed: Slashdot
Feed Link: https://slashdot.org/
---

Title: SpaceX Starship Explodes On Test Stand

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/06/19/2...

SpaceX's Starship exploded on its test stand in South Texas ahead of an
engine test, marking the fourth loss of a Starship this year. "In three
previous test flights, the vehicle came apart or detonated during its
flight," notes the Washington Post. No injuries were reported but the
incident highlights ongoing technical challenges as SpaceX races to prove
Starship's readiness for deep-space travel. From the report: In a post on the
social media site X, SpaceX said that the explosion on the test stand, which
could be seen for miles, happened at about 11 p.m. Central time. For safety
reasons, the company had cleared personnel from around the site, and "all
personnel are safe and accounted for," it said. The company is "actively
working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in
conjunction with local officials," the post continued. "There are no hazards
to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not
attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue." Starship
comprises two stages -- the Super Heavy booster, which has 33 engines, and
the Starship spacecraft itself, which has six. Before Wednesday's explosion,
the spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand, and not mounted on top
of the booster, when it blew up. The engines are test-fired on the Starship
before it's mounted on the booster. SpaceX had been hoping to launch within
the coming weeks had the engine test been successful. [...] In a post on X,
Musk said that preliminary data pointed to a pressure vessel that failed at
the top of the rocket. You can watch a recording of the explosion on YouTube.
SpaceX called the incident a "rapid unscheduled disassembly," which caught
the attention of Slashdot reader hambone142. In a story submitted to the
Firehose, they commented: "I worked for a major computer company whose power
supplies caught on fire. We were instructed to cease saying that and instead
say the power supply underwent a 'thermal event.' Gotta love it."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

---
VRSS v2.1.180528