SpaceX’s upper stage prototype, designated Ship 36, exploded in southeast Texas shortly before midnight local time on June 18 during routine preparations for an upcoming test flight.
SpaceX is in the midst of preparing for Starship’s next fully integrated test, known as Flight 10. The last several tests haven’t gone well, but this prototype never even left the ground. The explosion—as shown in spectacular footage from NASASpaceFlight.com—occurred at SpaceX’s Massey facility, a test site located several miles from the launch mount at Starbase, Texas.
The 171-foot-tall (52-meter) Starship upper stage “experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,” SpaceX said in a statement on X. “A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for.” The Starbase team is coordinating with local authorities to manage the aftermath of the incident, SpaceX said, adding that, while the company reported no threat to nearby communities, it urged the public to steer clear of the area as safety measures are carried out.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk chimed in a few hours after the incident on X, brushing off the incident as “Just a scratch.” He elaborated further this morning, saying the early data “suggests a nitrogen COPV [composite overwrapped pressure vessel] in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure,” and that if this proves to be the case, it’s the “first time ever for this design.” A COPV is a lightweight tank made of composite fibers wrapped around a thin liner to store high-pressure fluids, according to NASA. No further details are known, but as SpaceNews points out, Starship was being prepared for a static fire test, and the explosion happened before the rocket had a chance to fire its Raptor engines.
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