After SpaceX's Starship prototype experienced an epic failure earlier this week while being tested on the launchpad at its South Texas launch facility, Elon Musk has finally given some crucial details.
The private space company has suspended engine testing following an unplanned explosion on July 11 at SpaceX's Boca Chica site in Texas. The issue may prevent SpaceX from launching Starship as scheduled this month, as CEO Elon Musk reportedly projected.
Although more time is required to determine the extent of the damage, Musk has offered an update that appears to be positive news.
Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Launch Starship Next Month After Booster 7 Sustained Minor Damages
The explosion of the Raptor-powered Booster 7, which occurred while SpaceX's Starship was on a test flight, was captured on a live broadcast from NASA Spaceflight. Of course, this is not a pleasant sight to witness. Still, Elon Musk told his followers in a tweet that the booster's rockets only sustained minimal damage and the problem could be quickly fixed without delaying the flight.
Was just up in the booster propulsion section. Damage appears to be minor, but we need to inspect all the engines. Best to do this in the high bay.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2022
The space company's CEO said he personally visited the Starship site yesterday to view the damage and examine what transpired during the launch. He was then brought up to the rocket's base, where he was shown the Booster 7 that had detonated on Monday's test launch.
Musk said that the business needs to check all engines. A prototype of Rocket 7, SpaceX's Super Heavy first-stage booster for Starship, underwent an explosion test on Monday. The team installed 33 Raptor 2 engines in the enormous first stage before testing.
The public would benefit from learning whether the Starship is actually ready for future flights from Musk and SpaceX's ongoing testing of the spacecraft's capabilities during test runs and launches. When asked about the orbital test flight's impending timeline, Musk said in another tweet that it will happen immediately the next month "testing goes well."
If testing goes well, as soon as next month
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2022
Although Musk notes that further inspection will be required at the High Bay, his most recent statement provides an optimistic prognosis. The majority of the stacking and assembly for the Starship prototype, including for the Super Heavy Booster 7 that detonated, is done in the High Bay at SpaceX's Boca Chica facility.
SpaceX Making More History
With the release of the first photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope, this week has been historically significant for the space industry. Now that the fans know the damage to Starship isn't too severe, Interesting Engineering notes more historical events in the few weeks.
End of an era: This could be the year when Webb is commissioned in space, SLS and Starship actually launch, NASA gets second crew transportation system, BE-4 completed. Delays to these programs have been some of the defining space stories of the last five years. Am happy for all.
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) July 12, 2022
SpaceX just received approval for the Starship's first orbital launch after meeting more Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) standards.
Eric Berger, the editor of Ars Technica, notes that Starship's historic milestone will be added to a list of other accomplishments this year.
"This could be the year when Webb is commissioned in space, SLS and Starship actually launch, NASA gets second crew transportation system, BE-4 completed," he stated in a tweet. "NASA gets second crew transportation system, BE-4 completed."
It appears to be the "end of an era" he added.
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