Boca Chica, Texas – SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is gearing up for Starship’s fourth integrated flight test, IFT-4, which could be just days away. However, the journey to this milestone has hit a snag with a fiery setback. Recent footage captured by NASASpaceflight shows a massive explosion during a Raptor engine test at SpaceX’s Boca Chica Starbase facilities in southern Texas.
The explosion occurred during an engine test when the Raptor engine shut off roughly 14 seconds after ignition. The incident led to flames engulfing the test tower, resulting in a second explosion. Despite this setback, there has been no official update from SpaceX regarding the explosion or its impact on the upcoming IFT-4 test flight.
Earlier this month, SpaceX experienced a minor anomaly during a test on the Starship upper stage. However, the company has not indicated any delays to the scheduled launch of IFT-4. SpaceX typically conducts qualification tests on Raptor engines before attaching them to Starship, ensuring a sufficient supply for upcoming tests.
Starship, equipped with 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy first stage, is hailed as the world’s most powerful rocket. The Raptor 2 engines currently undergoing testing boast higher thrust and improved design elements compared to previous versions. Elon Musk has revealed plans for the Raptor 2 engines to have 230 tons of thrust at sea level, promising increased reliability and power at a lower manufacturing cost than previous models.
On its last flight test, IFT-3, Starship achieved orbital velocity before crashing into the Indian Ocean. SpaceX aims to implement a reentry burn on the next flight to enable a soft landing in the ocean. The company is aiming to conduct as many as nine flights this year, potentially amending its agreement with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to facilitate more frequent launches and accelerate Starship development for NASA’s lunar lander project.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration with its innovative technologies and ambitious missions, despite encountering setbacks along the way. As the company navigates the challenges of testing and development, the world eagerly anticipates the next breakthrough in space travel and exploration.