SpaceX S Starship Flight 5: Exploring the Cause of the Explosion

During SpaceX's Starship flight 5, the upper stage of the spacecraft landed ocean-ed perfectly on target – at the correct speed and angle – but then, when the engines shut down, it toppled over and exploded. This incident has raised numerous questions, including whether the explosion was due to a fault or an intentional self-destruct. This article aims to explore the potential causes and provide insights into the incident.

Was It a Fault or an Intentional Self-Destruct?

In the aftermath of the incident, many speculated that there might have been some fault in the flight safety system. However, it's highly unlikely that the system initiated a self-destruct sequence, although this cannot be entirely ruled out. SpaceX, a company renowned for its focus on detail and data, would definitely benefit from up-close images and potentially samples for a better understanding of what happened with the heat shield and the ablative 'fall-back' layer beneath it.

A detailed analysis suggests that the primary cause might have been the internal stresses that developed as the spacecraft toppled over. One of the key pieces of equipment that could have been damaged was the oxygen down-comer tube. This critical component feeds oxygen to the engines through the main methane tank, which inadvertently allowed air and methane to mix. A simple spark or friction could then trigger a rapid and catastrophic reaction.

Structural Vulnerability of Tipped-over Spacecraft

The incident highlights the inherent vulnerability of spacecraft when they are tipped over. Most spacecraft are unable to support their own weight under these conditions, unless the interior is pressurized by remaining propellant. Without this internal pressure, the structure is much weaker, similar to how a soda can becomes much easier to crush when it's empty.

To illustrate this point, SpaceX has a test rig called "The Can Crusher," which is used to test the strength of newly designed rocket sections. This name underscores the fragility of the rocket components when under such stress.

Precedence and Potential Solutions

The same phenomenon has been observed in other SpaceX tests, for instance, with the Falcon-9 rocket. Multiple videos show a Falcon-9 toppling over and exploding upon contact with something, typically the drone ship. The incident with Starship is not unique and represents a common challenge in landing spacecraft on water after a vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) sequence.

SpaceX has already acknowledged this issue and is working on solutions. One potential approach could be to redesign the landing sequence to avoid extreme tipping over or to implement a robust recovery system that can support the weight of the spacecraft in an inverted position. Additionally, efforts to improve the structural integrity of the spacecraft during landing could also mitigate the risk of such explosions.

Conclusion

Based on the available information and analysis, it is highly unlikely that the explosion was due to a fault or an intentional self-destruct. What likely happened is a combination of internal stresses and the inherent vulnerability of the spacecraft when tipped over. As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of spaceflight, understanding and addressing these challenges will be crucial.

References:

SpaceX Starship test video analysis SpaceX Falcon-9 test footage Technical documents from SpaceX