The Phoenix redemption: How SpaceX rised from ashes to success in 44 days.
By Raptor and Magnum.
This article is dedicated to all the SpaceX, Ship and Starbase team, unrecognized heroes. who put all their passion which comes directly from their souls to make our species multiplanetary.
The calm before the storm.
On June 18th, 2025, SpaceX was preparing to perform a 6 engine static fire of their vehicle for the tenth flight of Starship, named S36. It wasn't the first; S36 performed a single-engine burn simulating an in-space burn or deorbit burn.
All did go nominal; the second static fire should happen soon, and it should go well…right?
S36 engine bay view from SpaceX showing the single engine firing.
We weren't ready for this.
Massey's tank farm was starting to become active, and propellant started flowing. Then, suddenly, without any sign, at 11:01:52 pm CDT, S36 imploded.
In my case, I did go to sleep before activity ramped up, thinking it would go well and I would see it in the morning. The phrase that told me what happened…
"Ship 36 has exploded.”
A day later, SpaceX released an update regarding this event, we were hoping to know what happened. Although we were devastated, they gave us some answers.
I will show a capture of the update in case someone didn't see it and resume it.
“After completing a single-engine static fire earlier this week, the vehicle was in the process of loading cryogenic propellant for a six-engine static fire when a sudden energetic event resulted in the complete loss of Starship and damage to the immediate area surrounding the stand.
Initial analysis indicates the potential failure of a pressurized tank known as a COPV, or composite overwrapped pressure vessel, containing gaseous nitrogen in Starship’s nosecone area, but the full data review is ongoing.”
COPV stands for (Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel).
SpaceX didn't say anything more after this update; visual analysis tells us that a white vapor did come out of the nosecone, possibly coming from one or more COPVs, which aligns with the update SpaceX provided.
We don't know how it evolved into a catastrophic anomaly, but my idea is that the COPV failed, damaging the dome of the methane tank, causing it to rupture, mix with the lox, and explode. Hopefully SpaceX will share more information in the future.
Now that we know to some extent what did happen with S36, what did happen with Massey's?
Guys…what can we do now?
After this event, even devastated, SpaceX didn't waste any time and started assessing the situation, trying to know what they need to repair, but first they need to know what the damages are.
Here is an idea of what was broken, damaged, and which items were ok:
- The static fire stand (commonly named the crab stand because of its form), sensors, instruments, access stairs, and equipment got burned and heavily damaged, while the “skeleton” or structure itself seems to have not received critical damage.
- The SQD gantry structure, which supports the ship's quick disconnect connection, fuel, electrical, and data lines, was completely destroyed, and it seems like the flame trench was slightly damaged.
- The most damaged tank was the CH4 (methane) one: only 2 out of 5 tanks were kept there (though slightly damaged, they were repainted and also likely repairable), while 3 had to be swapped out. All of the prop lines, pumps, some vaporizers, and related motors were destroyed and swapped.
- Another damaged tank farm was the water one: tanks were disconnected from their ground supports, and some were slightly burned. They haven’t been swapped out yet; the nitrogen and oxygen tank farms weren’t damaged, if not for something minor, which was repaired.
- A tent was burned down, and the electrical bunker was completely destroyed, and the Block 3 Booster cryo station was heavily damaged.
- The B18.1 test article looked to have no damage, as well as the ship’s cryo station, which we can confirm when S38 performed 3 cryo tests on July 30 and then rolled back to Mega Bay 2 on August 1.
It will take time to repair and prepare Massey's for the next generation, but if anyone can do it, it is the SpaceX team.
With Massey's down, it seems like they will need to perform the remnant static fires of block 2 on the OLM-1 but…. the Orbital Launch Mount was designed for boosters so….how they will use it to static fire ships?
When the greatest minds cooperate again.
How can you adapt a launch pad designed to support booster static fires, being able to not damage it and then reverse the modifications for launches?
After the events of June 18, SpaceX was in the necessary need of a new and fast way to test their second stages, but how? Waiting for Massey's to come back online is not an option; with two block 2 ships left, it would be better to prepare it for the next gen, and converting the OLM along with the BQD would consume a lot of time and maybe with more issues than advantages, but what if we focus on an adapter?
You may know that there are some plug adapters for different countries that allow you to use a different plug without needing to change the outlet…..The light bulb went on for you, didn't it?
The Starship launch mount static fire adapter or SQR. Credits to Starship Gazer on X.
I present to you the Starship launch mount static fire adapter, most commonly known as SQR captured by Starship Gazer on X.
SpaceX took a ship transport stand and modified it to be able to be held by the arms of the OLM. They did eliminate the legs and added some panels on the side to protect the interior of the OLM, along with other hardware, the stand also received the RVac mounts necessary to fire the vacuum raptors at sea level and the engine chill lines were rerouted.
The OLM hold down clamps were removed, and the Booster Quick Disconnect did suffer some changes; a hole was cut on the backside of the hood to be able to access the fuel lines. This was for the purpose of redirecting them above the hood, and a frame was installed to support the QD, or the face hugger, as some say, to supply the commodities.
This stand was lifted onto the OLM on the 18th of July, and then it was secured with welds and bolts.
The results of their work.
After working hard in designing, developing, and making their plan a reality, SpaceX teams were ready to put it to the test: Ship 37, the next in line, rolled out for testing on July 28th, and was lifted onto the OLM the same day, already marking an incredible milestone.
After taking a day for inspecting and ensuring everything was nominal, SpaceX started testing on the 30th, aborting the single-engine static fire a few minutes before ignition. But this was just a temporary bump in the road, as they quickly resumed testing the next day and succeeded in a single-engine static fire, demonstrating an in-space burn using a sea-level engine.
The following day, on August 1st, they quickly got to testing again, ahead of a 6-engine static fire, the ultimate test before flight. After a long day of preparations, all engines roared almost successfully, demonstrating that SpaceX doesn’t give up in front of anything, and always finds the fastest and best solution.
You may have noticed I said that the engines roared “almost successfully”: I said almost because, a couple of days later (with S37 already back at the production site and OLM conversion to launch configuration underway), we saw an RVac engine being swapped on the Ship, and the OLM returning to testing configuration, suggesting they’d have to retest Ship 37. But don’t fear, because this will delay the flight by just a few days, and will likely not have an impact on its outcome.
And now, onto our dedicatory!
Raptor: To every single employee of SpaceX, this is for you:
June 18th, 2025: only a few dates stuck in our minds. Suddenly all the work, blood, and hard work were gone, and SpaceX did show us why you can bet against them. Only 44 days after the event, S37 Raptors, which i am proud to say is one of my life passions. roared, in my honest opinion, with an angelical sound. How powerful can a passion be that can power a heart that, not only their minds feel, but can be materialized in standing up, recovering from a tragic event, and showing to all the space fans that you can't give up. Since I discovered SpaceX, they have shown me some truly important life lessons. Regardless of the severity of the setback, it is crucial to persevere.
Dear SpaceX team, This dedicatory that i am writing with some tears of happiness is a shoutout to your passion, capable of powering hearts, including mine and a lot of people's, and it can't be described with words, but it can be transmitted; my tattoos prove it. I can't thank enough how important and special this company is.
Thanks for being the hope of the entire humanity; for being authentic heroes without a cape, thanks for giving us a reason to not give up. for teaching the kids what could be their future work and passion. The entire humanity will always be grateful; this dedication wasn't written using my hands, my heart did.
Flight 10 is coming. Go Starship, Go Super Heavy, Go SpaceX.
We are going to Mars.
Magnum: To all the teams at SpaceX:
If someone had told me, 2 months ago, that I would be writing this, I would’ve called them crazy. In my mind, no possible outcome in the program could’ve possibly led to this.
But once again, SpaceX proved to us to never say never about them: even after a dooming explosion that left the most optimistic to lose hope for a flight in the summer, SpaceX designed, developed, and implemented a groundbreaking plan for static firing Ships on the OLM… and guess what?
They succeeded in it.
This milestone made us really understand what SpaceX is made of… because, as someone said:
“There will be no wasted Mars window”.
So congratulations to all the teams at SpaceX for their efforts in making life multiplanetary.
Credits:
