Starship’s failed seventh test flight in January ended in a stunning explosion, the burning debris from which looked like a “meteor shower.” However, this explosion was not only spectacular, but also dangerous, because it happened over tourist areas and forced airlines to change routes to avoid the collision. Investigation of the disaster revealed the cause: unexpected vibrations during flight that destroyed the rocket.
According to SpaceX, the Starship booster underwent a strong harmonic oscillation, a phenomenon where vibrations are amplified due to resonance. This increased the stress on the engines and probably led to an explosion before even reaching space.
Problems with the second stage
During the launch, all 33 engines of the Super Heavy launch vehicle operated normally and the separation of the booster was successful. However, due to insufficient power from the ignition system, one of the engines shut down early, although the other 12 continued to run. SpaceX has already upgraded the ignition system to avoid similar problems in the future.
After the booster separation, new complications emerged. Two minutes after the engines ignited, one of the Raptor vacuums in the tail section of Starship had a spark. This probably caused a leak, contributing to a further fire and the automatic shutdown of several engines. As a result, communication with the spacecraft was lost.
Starship’s second stage completely disintegrated as it fell about three minutes after losing its signal. According to SpaceX’s findings, the emergency flight termination system triggered autonomously as intended.
Consequences of the accident
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation into SpaceX’s leadership. Rocket debris fell in the Atlantic Ocean, some in the Turks and Caicos territory. There were no casualties, but locals reported finding fragments on beaches and private properties.
SpaceX said all debris fell in the planned area, contained no hazardous materials and did not harm the environment. The company emphasized that pre-launch precautions proved effective in protecting the public.
Starship testing continues
Starship is a key element of NASA’s future space missions, particularly the Artemis program, which involves landing astronauts on the Moon. In addition, this rocket will be able to transport large payloads including Starlink satellites.
Starship’s next test is scheduled for March 1. After analyzing the accident, the design was modified by improving the fuel system, adjusting the fuel temperature, and adding vents and a blowing system in the tail section to improve its fire resistance.
Rocket tests are always accompanied by failures. Starship’s first launch attempt in April 2023 resulted in significant damage to the launch pad, and the rocket itself exploded four minutes after liftoff. The second test went better – it was possible to accomplish key milestones, although both the launch vehicle and booster were destroyed. Recent tests have shown some progress, but problems remain.
SpaceX continues to improve Starship, and the next launches will show how effective the new changes will be.
Earlier we reported on how debris from the Falcon 9 second stage fell in Poland.
According to spacenews.com
