A high-pressure composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) exploded at the SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas. The blast triggered a fire that resulted in the total destruction of one of the company's structures.
COPV units are lightweight tanks featuring a metal liner and a carbon fiber exterior. SpaceX utilizes these tanks on Falcon 9 rockets to store compressed helium, which maintains pressure in fuel tanks during flight.
The company has a history of incidents involving COPV components. In June 2015, a mounting strut failure led to the loss of a Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon spacecraft. In September 2016, another explosion occurred on the launch pad during pre-flight testing.
Following the 2016 incident, which involved potential ignition between the metal liner and composite shell, SpaceX implemented design changes. The company updated the tank architecture, mounting systems, and fueling protocols.
