Starship V3 explodes during testing, why, and what consequences for SpaceX and NASA?

Everything is in turmoil in space at the end of the year: NASA is getting impatient, Blue Origin is riding on success and SpaceX feels for the first time in a long time that its omnipotence is wavering. And in fact, it is a test of the future version of the Starship, the one which is to go to the Moon with astronauts on board, which has just exploded due to a gas leak.

The photos of the B18 booster are quite impressive, as can be seen in RGV Photography’s share on his X account:

The Starship V2 was a problematic generation, which experienced far too many explosions, and which we quickly understood would only be a stage. Problem is, V3, with all its improvements, was to be the first milestone of the new generation. His outburst during a routine test is not very reassuring.

The B18 ground test was only pressurization with ambient air.

The Booster B18, which is a new structure compared to the old Starship V2 models, has just exploded, or imploded, two and a half days ago during a test without engines and without fuel. It was a pressure test with a fairly ordinary filling. SpaceX clarifies that this test was not even a structural strength test and that no one was injured in the explosion.

As of this writing, the B18, which was in danger of collapsing and causing more damage, has been cut up and removed from the site.

The big question that arises is this: is this problem due to a structural defect or not? If so, then things are off to a bad start for the Starship V3, because the boosters are already in the production phase: the modifications to be made would involve further delays.
The chances of seeing the Starship V3 take off at the end of January as hoped by SpaceX are greatly diminishing, if not almost zero.

Likewise, the fundamental in-orbit refueling test, recently announced for June 2026, risks being postponed.

In the images, we can see that the central methane return column seems to have held up well, even if a hole is clearly visible. The B18 was probably only holding together thanks to this column.

Starship threatened with further delays, and the arrival of a New Glenn in a heavy version?

A few hours earlier, we learned of Blue Origin’s announcement of a heavier version of its New Glenn, with 9 engines instead of the current 7, and a capacity extended to 70 tons in low orbit as well as a size greater than the legendary Saturn V, which peaked at 111 meters.

We can also bet that the Chinese observe all this with a certain relish. NASA probably didn’t appreciate this umpteenth adventure around the Starship.

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