Elon Musk Explains Recent SpaceX SN10 Starship Explosion

A week after the explosion of SpaceX’s SN10 Starship, Elon Musk has now revealed exactly what caused the prototype to burst into flames after a successful launch.

According to Elon, the “SN10 engine was low on thrust due (probably) to partial helium ingestion from fuel header tank. Impact of 10m/s crushed legs & part of skirt. Multiple fixes in work for SN11.” SpaceX has already worked out multiple fixes to avoid another explosion with the SN11 Starship prototype. Musk has also taken responsibility for the problem noting a fix he approved was probably what caused the failure.

It is also interesting to note that SpaceX has already prepared an SN11 prototype at its Boca Chica facility with its fourth high-altitude heavy-lift test launch set to take place in the coming weeks.

SN10 engine was low on thrust due (probably) to partial helium ingestion from fuel header tank. Impact of 10m/s crushed legs & part of skirt. Multiple fixes in work for SN11.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 9, 2021

Fair point. If autogenous pressurization had been used, CH4 bubbles would most likely have reverted to liquid.

Helium in header was used to prevent ullage collapse from slosh, which happened in prior flight. My fault for approving. Sounded good at the time.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 9, 2021

In case you missed it, Elon Musk recently announced plans to start a Texas City called “Starbase.”