SpaceX’s Starship V3 Booster Encountered Gas System Malfunction During Testing
SpaceX announced that its third-generation Super Heavy Booster, also known as Booster 18, experienced a significant gas system failure during a pressure test on Thursday morning. The incident occurred ahead of structural proof testing, as detailed in a post shared on social media platform X. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported since the booster was devoid of propellant and engine installations during the test, and personnel were maintained at a safe distance.
The explosive release of gas resulted in damage to the lower section of the booster, as evidenced by images captured by SpaceX’s content creators. Livestream footage from around 4 AM on Friday documented the incident. The aerospace company mentioned that further investigation is necessary to determine the root cause of the anomaly.
Booster 18 is a vital component of the Starship system, positioned as SpaceX’s massive, fully reusable rocket built to handle high payload capacities. With a staggering weight of 5,000 tons and a height exceeding 400 feet, it stands taller than a 30-story building.
Thus far, the Starship program has seen 11 successful launches and five test explosions, with each launch costing over $100 million. While this most recent incident was relatively minor, past failures have resulted in debris scattering across the landscape. SpaceX envisions using Starship for missions to the Moon and Mars, following the successful test flight of its latest second-generation model in October, just months after its inaugural payload deployment in August.
Since 2024, SpaceX has accounted for 86% of the global payload mass lifted into space, although competitors like Blue Origin are aggressively pursuing market share. Notably, NASA has reported a staggering 95% reduction in launch costs compared to the Space Shuttle era, with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 offering a launch cost 20 times lower per kilogram than its predecessor.
