The launch company said the incident resulted in the “complete loss” of the vehicle and damage to the area surrounding the test stand, where it was preparing for a static fire of its engines.
While nobody was injured, the news comes weeks after Starship’s ninth test flight also ended in failure, with the craft breaking up on re-entry.
“After completing a single-engine static fire earlier this week, the vehicle was in the process of loading cryogenic propellant for a six-engine static fire when a sudden energetic event resulted in the complete loss of Starship and damage to the immediate area surrounding the stand,” said SpaceX in a statement.
“The explosion ignited several fires at the test site, which remains clear of personnel and will be assessed once it has been determined to be safe to approach. Individuals should not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.
“As is the case before any test, a safety zone was established around the test site and was maintained throughout the operation. There are no reported injuries, and all personnel are safe and accounted for.”
SpaceX added that its engineering teams are already investigating the incident, which took place on Wednesday at 11pm local time, to determine the root cause of the explosion.
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“Initial analysis indicates the potential failure of a pressurised tank known as a COPV, or composite overwrapped pressure vessel, containing gaseous nitrogen in Starship’s nosecone area, but the full data review is ongoing.
“There is no commonality between the COPVs used on Starship and SpaceX’s Falcon rockets.”
Starship is the collective name for the SpaceX Super Heavy booster rocket and Starship spacecraft, destined to fly humans to Mars one day.
Testing began in April 2023 when the spacecraft failed to reach orbit, but culminated in the first stage incredibly returning to the original launch pad and being caught by mechanical arms in October last year.
Its last flight, its ninth, though, ended in failure when its Super Heavy boosters broke apart after it had successfully reached space. The launch vehicle span in orbit and eventually broke up over the Indian Ocean as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.
“As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in a statement on social media.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary.
“The most likely cause of Starship’s loss of attitude control during flight nine appears to be a propellant leak or engine failure in the upper stage, leading to a spin during re-entry. X posts and prior flight data suggest a leak disrupted control, similar to issues in flights seven and eight.
“Structural vibrations may also contribute, but propulsion problems are more likely based on current evidence. SpaceX’s official report is pending for confirmation.”
This was the first time Starship had reused its Super Heavy boosters, which had been on flight seven in January and were planned for a “hard splashdown” in the Gulf of Mexico; however, the boosters broke up approximately six minutes and 20 seconds into the flight.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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