SpaceX Engine Test Stand Blows Up After Likely Starship Raptor Engine Test

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While it prepares for the Starship IFT-4 in its facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, SpaceX's rocket engine test pad in McGregor, Texas has gone up in flames. Footage from local media shows that as the firm was testing a rocket engine at the site, a fiery explosion took place and engulfed the tower in flames. So far, there have been no updates from SpaceX about the mishap, and it follows a smaller anomaly that took place on a Starship second stage spacecraft earlier this month during testing on a different pad.

SpaceX's Rocket Engine Test Leads To Massive Fireball At Test Stand

Unlike the majority of rocket companies, which produce a fixed number of engines intended for specific future rockets, SpaceX is a hardware rich company. Its Starship rocket development in Texas has seen the firm spool up the production of steel sheets, metal tanks, and rocket engines.

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Before a rocket engine is installed either on the Falcon 9, Starship Super Heavy or Starship second stage, it undergoes qualification tests at SpaceX's facilities in McGregor, Texas. The two rocket engines can be distinguished through their exhaust plumes. While the Merlin's exhaust glows orange because of kerosene, Raptor's exhaust is cleaner and emit a bluish hue. The Raptor engines are a brand new design created especially for Starship since they can use methane as their fuel.

Today, footage from a local media channel in Texas, NASASpaceflight, shows that what appeared to be a Raptor engine test at a SpaceX stand in McGregor end up in flames. The test started a little after 4:12 p.m. local time and looked to proceed normally as the smoke from the firing blocked the camera view. As the smoke cleared 14 seconds post ignition, the engine had shut off, and the test seemed to have