Where is the future of Starship V2?

一个月后再来回顾，2025年6月18日深夜，SpaceX的Starship V2原型在美国德克萨斯州Starbase测试场进行静态点火测试时发生了剧烈爆炸，被完全摧毁。

Looking back a month later, on the night of June 18, 2025, SpaceX’s Starship V2 prototype was completely destroyed in a violent explosion during a static fire test at the Starbase testing site in Texas, USA.

在近期的几次Starship Flight Test中，Rocket上级，也就是V2 Starship频繁出现燃料泄漏问题，导致翻滚不受控和Engine Failer而导致自毁事故不断发生。尤其是在6/18的静态点火测试中，编号为Ship 36的V2原型在加注推进剂过程中发生剧烈爆炸，测试台和周边设施遭到严重破坏，修复工作可能需要数月时间。

In several recent Starship flight tests, the rocket’s upper stage—the V2 Starship—has repeatedly suffered from fuel leaks, leading to uncontrolled tumbling, engine failures, and self-destruction incidents. Especially during the static fire test on June 18, the V2 prototype, designated Ship 36, exploded violently while being fueled with propellant. The test stand and nearby infrastructure sustained severe damage, and repairs may take several months.

SpaceX初步分析认为，爆炸源于火箭顶部的复合包覆压力容器（COPV）失效。这一组件用于储存高压气体，失效可能导致剧烈的结构破坏。这一问题暴露了V2版本在设计和制造工艺上的潜在缺陷。

SpaceX’s preliminary analysis suggests that the explosion was caused by the failure of a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) located at the top of the rocket. This component is used to store high-pressure gas, and its failure could lead to catastrophic structural damage. This issue reveals potential design and manufacturing flaws in the V2 version.

考虑到V2版本频繁出现的技术问题和安全隐患，继续投入资源进行修复和优化可能得不偿失。与其在V2版本上反复调试，不如将研发重心转向V3版本，采用更成熟的设计和技术路线，以提高项目的成功率和效率。

Given the recurring technical issues and safety risks associated with the V2 version, continued investment in repairs and optimizations may not be worth the cost. Rather than endlessly troubleshooting the V2, it may be wiser to shift the development focus to the V3 version, which adopts a more mature design and technological path, thereby improving the project’s success rate and efficiency.