The Super Heavy Booster 7 for the SpaceX Starship exploded epically during testing (video)

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 12.07.2022, 13:59

The Super Heavy Booster 7 rocket epically exploded as part of a ground test that took place in Texas.

What is known

Super Heavy Booster 7 is a rocket booster designed for next-generation spacecraft by SpaceX. Specifically, for Starship. During the test, the base of the rocket turned into a fireball with clouds of smoke. Elon Musk stated that his team is now assessing the damage.

The rocket booster is equipped with 33 engines Raptor. The incident occurred during a static fire test at the Texas launch site SpaceX Starbase at 5:20 p.m. local time on July 11 (July 12, 00:20 a.m. Kiev time). It took firefighters more than an hour to fight the fire. What caused the explosion is not specified.

Recall that in 2020 and 2021, SpaceX lost four prototype spacecraft Starshipduring high-altitude test launches . In May 2021, the tests were successful. The launch of Starship was planned for 2022, but due to a rocket booster explosion, it may be delayed.

Source: Reuters