Explosion at SpaceX’s Starship launch site, days before critical rocket mission
The Independent • • science
Key Points:
- An explosion occurred during a deluge test at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, where the company is preparing to launch its Starship rocket, with the incident captured on a NASASpaceflight livestream showing debris flying into the air.
- The deluge test involves spraying water at the rocket base to manage flames during launch, and the explosion caused the deluge system to shut down temporarily.
- SpaceX has not yet commented on the impact of the explosion on the Starship launch schedule, which Elon Musk previously estimated to be 4 to 6 weeks away, potentially by mid-May.
- The upcoming test will feature an updated Starship, booster, and launchpad, with the combined rocket standing 124 meters tall and capable of delivering over 100 tons to low Earth orbit.
- SpaceX is developing Starship under a multi-billion dollar NASA contract for the Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, though the timeline faces challenges including technical difficulties and competition from China.
