SpaceX and Elon Musk Reveal Fire Cause Behind Starship Flight 7 Explosion

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Following the unexpected failure of SpaceX’s upper-stage Starship during Flight 7, Elon Musk has provided insights into the possible causes of the incident. According to SpaceX’s official statement regarding the failure, the spacecraft experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) during its mission. This occurrence, described as the mid-flight breakup of the vehicle, was attributed to a fire igniting in the lower section of the rocket. Musk emphasized that the fire was triggered by a leak located in the area separating the rocket’s engines from its main structure.

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In the aftermath of the Flight 7 incident, it was reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily rerouted aircraft in the vicinity due to the explosion of the upper stage. As of now, the FAA has not confirmed whether any pieces of Starship debris fell outside the pre-established hazard zone, which is normally cleared of aircraft to prevent accidents during potential anomalies.

SpaceX’s press release following the explosion stated that “Starship flew within its designated launch corridor”and reassured that “Any surviving pieces of debris would have fallen into the designated hazard area.”Shortly after the flight anomaly, the FAA issued a temporary notice alerting pilots to a “DANGEROUS AREA FOR FALLING DEBRIS OF ROCKET STARSHIP FLT-7.”

The FAA elaborated on its response to the incident, revealing that it “briefly slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where space vehicle debris was falling.”Statements from both the agency and SpaceX leave some ambiguity regarding whether any debris landed outside the specified boundaries.

Starship Flight 7 Launch — Starship Flight 7 lifts off from Texas yesterday. Image: SpaceX

Musk, who previously commented that excitement is a constant during these tests, took to X once more to explain the reasons for the Starship’s failure. He pointed out that “Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity.”

The engine firewall serves as a protective barrier in the lower section of the Starship, shielding internal components and fuel tanks from the intense heat and flames produced by its six Raptor engines. Throughout the testing phases, fires in the engine bay have occurred frequently, highlighting ongoing challenges in the program.

Musk’s statements suggest that the actual leak occurred above the firewall, where the rocket struggled to relieve the pressure build-up. When combined with SpaceX’s assertion that “a fire developed in the aft section of the ship,”one can reasonably deduce that excessive pressure, exacerbated by engine heat, led to the catastrophic explosion of the Starship.

The Starship involved in this incident was an enhanced model compared to its predecessors, boasting larger tanks and increased fuel capacity. However, it remains uncertain if this higher capacity contributed to the propellant over-pressurization that Musk referenced.

Regarding remedial measures, Musk noted that the plan includes “obviously double-checking for leaks,”along with the addition of fire suppression systems in the affected area and an increase in venting capacity. While Musk remains optimistic that “Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month,”this timeline may be impacted if the FAA mandates a thorough investigation into the Flight 7 anomaly.

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