Why did Elon Musk's Starship explode during testing? SpaceX answers

SpaceX's ambitious Starship program suffered a setback late Wednesday night when a prototype vehicle exploded during a routine test at the company's Starbase facility.The incident resulted in the complete loss of the Starship vehicle and damage to the immediate test area, but no injuries were reported.The explosion comes on the heels of Elon Musk planning to conduct the tenth test flight of the Starship Super Heavy rocket on June 29. advertisementWHY DID STARSHIP EXPLODE?
According to SpaceX, the Starship was on the test stand preparing for its tenth flight test. After successfully completing a single-engine static fire earlier in the week, engineers were loading cryogenic propellant for a planned six-engine static fire when a sudden and energetic event occurred.The explosion ignited several fires around the test site, but the area had been cleared of personnel in advance, and all staff are safe and accounted for.SpaceX emphasised that there is no threat to the surrounding Rio Grande Valley communities.'Previous independent tests confirm that materials inside Starship pose no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks,' the company stated, adding that it is working closely with local, state, and federal agencies to monitor environmental and safety impacts.Initial investigations by SpaceX engineering teams suggest the failure may have originated from a pressurised tank known as a COPV (composite overwrapped pressure vessel), which contained gaseous nitrogen in Starship's nosecone area.advertisementHowever, the company noted that a full data review is ongoing and that there is no commonality between the COPVs used in Starship and those in its Falcon rockets.'As is the case before any test, a safety zone was established and maintained throughout the operation,' SpaceX reported. The company also thanked first responders and local officials for their quick assistance following the anomaly.SpaceX remains committed to its Starship development program, which aims to revolutionise space travel with fully reusable rockets capable of carrying humans and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.The company's rapid prototyping approach means setbacks are expected, but each incident provides valuable data to improve future designs and safety protocols.Must Watch

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