Explosion during test of 4th Starship prototype
Capitalism in space: SpaceX engineers experienced another explosion during testing of their fourth Starship prototype today, completely destroying the protoype.
They already have their fifth prototype almost complete, so I expect they will clean up the debris, analyze again what went wrong, and start testing again.
At a certain point however these explosions have got to end, or else the project will begin to be in trouble.
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX engineers experienced another explosion during testing of their fourth Starship prototype today, completely destroying the protoype.
They already have their fifth prototype almost complete, so I expect they will clean up the debris, analyze again what went wrong, and start testing again.
At a certain point however these explosions have got to end, or else the project will begin to be in trouble.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Despite its being an obvious happy compromise between Isp and density, liquid methane/LOX had never seen much development before SpaceX. They are basically pioneering the large-scale implementation of this prop combination. So they are going to come up with some new failure modes, as they already have with COPVs and the chemistry of titanium.
I’m amazed at just how volatile this prop combo looks to be. It’s scary! But they are going to conquer it.
If each explosion occurs further along in the test sequence, then the project is not in trouble.
It sure packed a punch.
Patrick: Your comment reminds me of Manly Wade Wellman’s short story in the June 1938 Astounding Science Fiction, “Men Against the Stars.” Manned rockets, using an unstable atomic hydrogen fuel, blow up traveling to Mars from the Moon.
https://sfmagazines.com/?p=4858
How many Falcon 9’s crash landed in the early attempts of the impossible?
SpaceX solved those problems and have LANDED 44 of 52 attempts.
The SpaceX Starship (or something very similar) will be earth’s first true Spaceship.
Thank you Mr. Musk.
I had often noted the extremely robust appearance of the test stand, apparently constructed of steel I-beams of 10/12-inchs width or more. Post-explosion I saw no trace of it. Ho Li Kow!
Mark–
Good stuff.
You can also find that issue at:
https://archive.org/details/Astounding_v21n04_1938-06_Firebelly/mode/2up/search/Astounding+Science+Fiction+v21n04%2C+June+1938?q=Astounding+Science+Fiction+v21n04%2C+June+1938
Mark McSherry, as a long-time sf reader, your comment made my day. I’ll definitely dig into that web site.
Patrick–
you might enjoy this collection as well:
https://archive.org/details/pulpmagazinearchive
It looks like an O2 venting from either a busted line, hose or even the tank.
It didn’t ignite until several seconds after the venting started.
And it looks like the flame front came from the burn off stack and not the rocket itself.
they are going to have to move the burn off stack farther away and maybe add a water mist system to help keep any accidentally vented O2 or methane from staying too concentrated.
High speed cams would help a bit.
I have to agree with Mr. Zimmerman that unless they stop these ongoing issues with testing , the starship program will be in trouble. I honestly have been having doubts about their approach to the starship development efforts. I hope they can prove me wrong in the long run.
Thanks Wayne!
Funny that SpaceX is attempting to launch Bob-n-Doug this morning, a day after blowing up a rocket!
Go Bob-n-Doug!
I disagree with your last statement, Mr. Zimmerman. I think the explosions (failures) allow SpaceX to quickly learn what improvements are needed. The way I see it, the more explosions, the better.
“The greatest teacher, failure is.”
– Master Yoda
Jason Hillyer: I actually agree more with you than myself. I just thought it important to note that at some point, they need to get past the fueling, pressurization, and static fire tests and actually start the first hops.