SpaceX founder Elon Musk explained why the Starship prototype SN11 went up in flames last week.
The billionaire responded in a tweet on Monday to a SpaceX-themed Twitter account asking how the investigation into SN11’s “rapid unplanned disassembly” – or RUD – is progressing.
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“The take-off phase, the transition to horizontal and control during free fall were good. A (relatively) small CH4 leak led to fire on car 2 and a fried part of the aviation, resulting in a hard start of landing in Caused CH4 turbo pump, “he explained.
A ‘hard start’ is when too much fuel ignites in the engine’s combustion chamber and the pressure is too high, according to Space.com.
“It’s being corrected six ways until Sunday,” Musk said.
The failed test flight was launched on March 30 last year from SpaceX’s South Texas Starship development center near Boca Chica Village.
After rising to a maximum altitude of 6.2 miles as planned, the 165-foot-high stainless steel spacecraft broke apart just before contact.
Dense fog obscures live video of the explosion and cameras on board froze after the SN11 made its distinctive turning motion in preparation for landing.
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CNET reported Monday that other cameras aimed at the runway caught an orange glow and a storm of debris as it rained on the exclusion zone around the road.
“The crater is at least in the right place!” Musk tweeted on March 30th.
SpaceX later confirmed that SN11 had “experienced” a RUD, which is the fourth consecutive Starship vehicle that SpaceX has lost since December.
Debris is recovered from a National Wildlife Refuge after the unmanned SpaceX Starship prototype rocket SN11 failed to land safely, in Boca Chica, Texas, USA 31,2021. REUTERS / Gene Blevins
(REUTERS / Gene Blevins)
The CH4, or methane, drives the SN11’s three Raptor engines, which deliver more than 1 million pounds of thrust.
The birds of prey were supposed to close as soon as they reached the desired height and in the last phase of the rocket’s descent reappeared for a vertical landing.
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Both SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy – the stage stage – are powered by Raptor engines and the company has already built the next updated Starship prototype, SN15.
The Starship is designed for a revolving flight and will take human passengers and cargo to the moon and eventually to Mars.