A violent explosion occurred during a Raptor 2 engine test at SpaceX’s test facilities in McGregor, Texas. to NASASpaceflight According to the report, gases leaking as a result of an abnormality in the engine caused a secondary explosion. In the live broadcast of the news organization, it was seen that the engine was turned off before the fire started and the flames soon turned the test stand to ashes.
SpaceX uses Raptor engines for the Starship system’s Super Heavy booster and upper-stage spacecraft. These engines use liquid methane and liquid oxygen as fuel and are designed to be powerful enough to send Starship to the Moon and Mars. Although SpaceX has not yet made an official statement, the explosion may have been caused by the mixing of gases due to a leak or similar anomaly.
The company is currently planning to launch Starship, which is scheduled to take place on June 5, provided regulatory approvals are received and there are no adverse weather conditions or other factors that could delay the launch. third test flight interior continues its preparations. This explosion is not expected to have an impact on the flight date.
SpaceX’s main goals in its fourth test flight are to ensure a smooth landing of the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico and a controlled launch of the Starship spacecraft into the atmosphere. make your entry. The company announced that it made a series of upgrades to the hardware and software in light of the information obtained from the third flight test. The Starship’s upper stage reached space during that flight but burned up as it reentered the atmosphere, while the Super Heavy booster broke apart in the final stages of its descent rather than landing gently in the ocean. It was taken.
