Watch: SpaceX’s Starship prototype explodes during pressure test [video]

A ground-based pressure test of Elon Musk’s new Starship SN1 prototype rocket resulted in catastrophic failure when the SN1 model exploded at SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

Earlier this week, the team prepped the rocket; a time-lapse video showed SpaceX crew moving the prototype to the launchpad and preparing the Raptor attachment for static fire.

According to SpaceX, the rocket was filled with super-cold propellant for the test, but collapsed in on itself and launched into the air before breaking apart.

SpaceX loses Starship SN1: What went wrong?

When asked what they learned from this event, Musk said on Twitter: “There’s a puck at the base that takes the engine thrust load. Don’t shuck the puck!”

He also shared a video clip of the explosion, which can be seen below, along with the caption:

“So… How was your night?”

Watch: SpaceX’s Starship prototype explodes

Set-backs expected

Back in December 2019, Musk announced plans for the SN1 and said that there would be set-backs during the rocket’s development.

“We’re now building flight design of Starship SN1, but each SN will have at least minor improvements, at least through SN20 or so of Starship V1.0”.

We’d say that the SN1 will be needing a lot more than “minor improvements”, in fact, it isn’t even salvageable; but we understand where Musk is coming from. He is making history, after all.

Watch: The morning after

Fear not, SpaceX is already working on the SN2 prototype. Musk shared images of the SpaceX crew sleeving the dome in the high bay.

Musk said that the team is “stripping the SN2 to the bare minimum to test the thrust puck to dome weld under pressures.” He also explained the process:

“First with water, then at cryo. Hopefully, ready to test in a few days”.

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What is Starship exactly?

In a nutshell, Starship is a series of massive SpaceX rockets, designed to eventually launch cargo and people to the moon and Mars. If Musk has his way, that could happen within the next three years.

The Starship MK1 prototype had three next-gen Raptor engines, designed by SpaceX. The Starship MK1’s predecessor, the Starhopper, only had one and the Starship SN1 had six Raptor engines.

It appears that at least one engine was installed at the time of the disastrous testing. But if you think that’s impressive, SpaceX’s Super Heavy rocket will have space for 37 raptor engines.

Starship’s first crewed mission planned for 2023

Starhopper was retired in August 2019 after completing its second and final untethered flight. Starhopper had only a single Raptor, which took the craft about 150 metres in the air before landing safely.

Once the final design of Starship is complete, Musk will be one step closer to sending humans to the Moon and Mars, having said in the past that he is planning to send a crewed mission to the moon by 2023.