YouTube ^ | November 22, 2025 | SpaceX Community Posted on by SunkenCiv [snip] On November 21st, Superheavy booster 18, the first next generation block 3 Superheavy, suffered a catastrophic structural rupture during ground testing at the Massiey’s outpost. Intended to fly alongside ship 39 for Starship flight 12, the vehicle experienced an energetic failure in the opening phase of its proof campaign. The event immediately ended booster 18’s qualification path and pushed flight 12 several months beyond SpaceX’s original target. [/snip] Elon Musk Revealed Root Cause ‘COPV Failure’ on Booster 18 V3 After Inspection! Weird Explosion | 10: 29 SpaceX Community | 69. 2K subscribers | 5, 114 views | November 22, 2025 (Excerpt) Read more at youtube. com . TOPICS: Business/Economy; Science; Travel KEYWORDS: rud; spacex; starship; superheavybooster Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC PO Box 9771 Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. [snip] To understand what happened, we need to go frame by frame and examine what the event reveals and what it rules out. The fully stacked booster 18 carrying a long list of block 3 upgrades rolled out to Massie’s early Thursday to begin its pre-launch test program. The plan was to verify the redesigned propellant systems and evaluate structural strength under pressurization loads. After arriving at the stand, the vehicle was instrumented, connected, and prepared for cryogenic tests. Early Friday morning, venting activity began around the tank farm. At this stage of the campaign, the booster was undergoing an ambient pressure test prior to any cryogenic . The purpose is to verify structural integrity, confirm leak tightness, validate plumbing routes, and ensure that venting systems function correctly before subjecting the vehicle to the far more demanding conditions of cryogenic proof. Minutes after the test began, the anomaly occurred. A violent rupture tore open the lower liquid oxygen tank, peeling a large longitudinal section outward like a tin can and releasing gas from the lower region. The booster remained standing and the methane tank above continued to be fully supported. Slow motion analysis indicates a sudden internal over pressure or a rapid pressure differential that exceeded the structural margin of the oxygen tank wall. SpaceX later issued a brief statement acknowledging the anomaly, confirming that the booster failed during a gas system pressure test conducted before structural proof testing. They emphasized that no propellants were loaded, no engines were installed, and all personnel were kept at a safe distance, preventing injuries. The company noted that teams now need time to investigate the failure before determining the root cause. Although the root cause remains uncertain, multiple plausible explanations exist with a few emerging as stronger possibilities. Because this was the first block 3 Superheavy, booster 18 introduced significant upgrades. These include a new integrated hot stage ring, a reinforced forward dome designed for more violent stage separation dynamics, larger grid fins, new aft section plumbing, and a redesigned methane downcomer. As soon as the rupture became visible, attention naturally shifted to the transfer tube, which passes through the affected region. Elon Musk previously confirmed that this tube is not simply a feed line, but a header tank integrated system that stores propellant for return to launch site maneuvers. He also described it as being under extreme loads and stated that a single leak would be game over. However, the transfer tube is not responsible for this failure. [/snip] 1 posted on by SunkenCiv My channel started as a way to keep people up to date on the world of SpaceX’s Starlink, the satellite internet service. The channel has grown to include the broader Elon Musk universe. SpaceX’s New V3 Booster Heavily Damaged During Prelaunch Testing | 9: 57 Ellie in Space | 213K subscribers | 11, 626 views | November 22, 2025 2 posted on by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin’ — it’s not just for DNC shills anymore — oh, wait, yeah it is.) Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by.
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