A SpaceX test tank filled with liquid nitrogen exploded after being pressurized. The explosion took place at the company’s facilities in Boca Chica, Texas and was recorded by an on-site observer.
Tanks of this type are often used to test the integrity of the material that forms them, which will eventually be used in the construction of rockets. The explosion occurred in the tank called “GSE-4” after being filled with liquid nitrogen, then pressurized. With the explosion, a large cloud of nitrogen was released by the site.
Check out the video below, which shows the exact moment of the explosion:
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The GSE-4 test tank has popped!https://t.co/YhZS6pd0Ec pic.twitter.com/lrbzbbJkYI
— Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) January 18, 2022
In the video, you can see vehicles parked near the site, along with some equipment. As the area was not evacuated, it is not yet known if what happened was accidental or if it was simply an intentional procedure in which SpaceX decided to test the tank to find out how far the structure could resist.
It is worth remembering that this is not the first time something like this has happened with the company’s tanks. In 2020, for example, the SN7.1 tank underwent a pressurization test and, during the procedure, it was filled with liquid nitrogen at very low temperatures, not taking long to explode. The test was carried out to verify the limits of the structure and also to demonstrate the interactions that can occur with the Starship vehicle, which will need to withstand certain conditions to perform manned flights safely.
