Advertisement Self-destruction after a malfunction in the fuel system: The seventh test flight of the Starship in mid-January ended with the spacecraft exploding. After a fire caused by leaking propellant, the Starship self-destructed. This was the result of an investigation by SpaceX. The problems should be rectified for the next flight. Anzeige About two minutes after the Starship was separated from the booster, a flash was seen near one of the Raptor engines, followed by another two minutes later, according to the US space company. Finally, there was a permanent fire in the area known as the Attic. The attic is located between the liquid oxygen tank and the rear heat shield. There is a vacuum in it. After the first flash, sensors reported an increase in pressure in this area, which indicated a leak. The engines shut down According to SpaceX, the fires caused the engines to shut down in a controlled manner, with one exception. Around 8 minutes and 20 seconds after the launch, communication with the Starship failed. Around three minutes later, the Starship exploded. The safety system automatically activated the self-destruct function. According to SpaceX, the debris came down in a predetermined area on the Turks and Caicos Islands and damaged a car. SpaceX has investigated the events. Vibrations were identified as the cause, which were much stronger than in previous tests. This led to “increased stress on the hardware of the propulsion system”. The resulting leaks caused more fuel to escape than could be discharged to the outside. Before the upcoming eighth flight of the Starship, SpaceX carried out an engine test in which the strong vibrations were simulated. As a result, the propellant supply lines were modified. SpaceX is also installing additional vents and a purge system with gaseous nitrogen in the Attic. Read also