Starship’s twelfth flight is just a few days away. In it, SpaceX will test version 3 of the rocket with which they have applied to take the next batch of humans to the lunar surface. However, while its opponent, Blue Origin, is going from strength to strength, SpaceX has experienced some incidents that could complicate their competition. The last of them took place last weekend.
An explosion and a flood that doesn’t work. The incidence took place during a test of the launch pad’s deluge system. This is used to shoot water upwards, thus preventing the ignition of the rocket engines from causing a fire. After activating it, a small explosion occurred, followed by the formation of a column of water vapor. Likely, as explained the youtuber and content creator of the Marcus House space, it could be due to the gas unit losing the lid due to excess pressure. It wouldn’t be a very serious problem. The bad thing is that it is not the first time.
More incidents. During two static firings of the B19 booster, in which it ignites without moving from the launch pad, it was necessary to abort the procedure due to a similar problem. There were also failures, both in the deluge system and with the steel plate that protects the launch pad.
Learning from mistakes. Both the flood system and that steel plate are the result of forced learning. And, during the first test launch of Starship, a huge roar was generated that ended with the destruction of the concrete structure that makes up the launch platform and a hole in the ground. In addition, a cloud of dust was generated that covered a nearby town.
Seeing all this, it is not strange that so many Texans want to denounce SpaceX for damage to their homes. To prevent something like this from happening again, the deluge system was put into operation and the platform was covered with a reinforced steel plate. These decisions were a before and after in the Starship launches. But of course, if they fail, things get very complicated.
In the race against Blue Origin. The Starship fulfills both the functions of a rocket and a ship capable of landing on the Moon. It is composed of two phases. The first, called Super Heavy, is the rocket itself. The second is the one that, once separated from the rocket, fulfills the functions of spacecraft and lunar lander. That is the one that is proposed together with Blue Origin to take the Artemis astronauts to the selenite surface.
Everything is still going. Despite this hiccup, everything is still on track for the next Starship launch. If all goes well, it will take place on May 15. For its part, Blue Origin has already tested its lunar lander in a NASA vacuum chamber with very good results. That doesn’t mean that Jeff Bezos’ company is going to be the winner, but it’s clear who’s luck is smiling the most right now.
Image | SpaceX
In Xataka | SpaceX is preparing the largest IPO in history: the fact that it is doing so right now is no coincidence
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings