Starship prototype damaged in tanking test
Posted: Sat, Nov 23, 2019, 10:11 AM ET (1511 GMT)
The first prototype of SpaceX Starship vehicle was damaged during testing Wednesday. The Starship Mark 1 tanks were being pressurized for a test at SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas, site when a bulkhead ruptured, causing a plume of material to erupt from the top of the vehicle and tossing part of it into the air. The company said there were no injuries during the incident, and claimed it was "not a serious setback." Company CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Starship Mark 1 at an event nearly two months ago, saying that the vehicle would fly to 20 kilometers in the next one of two months. In a statement after Wednesday's anomaly, SpaceX said the company had already decided not to fly the Mark 1 vehicle, a decision it had not previously disclosed. SpaceX will instead turn its attention to a Mark 3 version under construction.
The first prototype of SpaceX Starship vehicle was damaged during testing Wednesday. The Starship Mark 1 tanks were being pressurized for a test at SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas, site when a bulkhead ruptured, causing a plume of material to erupt from the top of the vehicle and tossing part of it into the air. The company said there were no injuries during the incident, and claimed it was "not a serious setback." Company CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Starship Mark 1 at an event nearly two months ago, saying that the vehicle would fly to 20 kilometers in the next one of two months. In a statement after Wednesday's anomaly, SpaceX said the company had already decided not to fly the Mark 1 vehicle, a decision it had not previously disclosed. SpaceX will instead turn its attention to a Mark 3 version under construction.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, December 6
America seeks faster ways to launch military satellites
The Economist — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Economic Development luncheon celebrates investments from Virgin Galactic, Netflix
KRQE-TV Albuquerque, NM — 5:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Netflix and Virgin Galactic shine positive light on state
KOB-TV Albuquerque — 5:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Lights spotted in sky over Adelaide and WA were SpaceX satellites, astronomer says
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 4:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Dreams of Space, Skepticism and the Right
Splice Today — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) |
