SpaceX engine fire erupts during testing
Chron • • science
Key Points:
- A significant fire occurred at SpaceX's McGregor, Texas test facility during Raptor engine testing for Starship Version 3, resulting in a large explosion and smoke but no reported injuries.
- Such fires and explosions are relatively common during engine testing as the engines are pushed to their limits, and this incident is part of routine safety testing.
- The Starship V3 engines deliver 280 metric tons of thrust, an upgrade from the previous Raptor 2's 230 metric tons, with improvements in efficiency and weight.
- Despite the explosion, the planned Starship launch, initially scheduled for March and now proposed for May, may not face further delays.
- SpaceX aims for high launch frequency, having received approval for 25 Starship launches annually from South Texas, with CEO Elon Musk envisioning over 24 launches in a single day within 6 to 7 years.
