The Super Heavy booster was looking to fire up its engines as proof of a real launch at the SpaceX pad , but ended unexpectedly.
A test of SpaceX ‘s Super Heavy booster ended with the explosion of its Raptor engines in Texas, Boca Chica.
The Super Heavy prototype is being designed to boost the Starship rocket for its missions to the Moon and Mars , but so far it’s having a tough time.
It didn’t go as expected
From the Starbase in Boca Chicas, Texas, SpaceX tried to test the B7 booster as if it were going to be launched into space. However, in videos captured by dedicated websites, the rockets can be seen exploding in the midst of a fire-filled disaster.
Holy moly. Well, that was unexpected!https://t.co/dUUqw7ojRv pic.twitter.com/7IGztPuE12
— Chris Bergin – NSF (@NASASpaceflight) July 11, 2022
The vent directly below the booster increased dramatically in the moments before the explosion, which produced a powerful fireball and shock wave.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk first tweeted that the clearly disastrous test had ended as expected, but that tweet was quickly deleted, later acknowledging that it was “not the best try.”
delays?
This test was necessary for Starship ‘s first orbital flight this year, which is expected to take place in the following months after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pointed out errors that the space company must correct.
Starship is aiming to conduct its first orbital flight test this year, though this incident could push back a timeline that has already faced a number of delays.
The capsule , docked on the Super Heavy booster, will take off from the US Starbase .
After leaving Earth’s atmosphere, the booster will separate and return to its launch tower, being caught by the arms of the launch tower.
Musk said the booster will spend six minutes in the air in total, two on the ascent and four on its return trip. In the future, the system could be reused every six to eight hours for three launches a day.