BOCA CHICA, Texas — SpaceX launched its latest Starship prototype on a flight test to about 40,000 feet altitude Wednesday, but the otherwise successful flight exploded as it attempted to land, KXAS reported.
Starship prototype Serial Number 8, called SN8, launched smoothly above the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas, the television station reported. The rocket appeared to complete several development objectives, including testing its aerodynamics and a flip to prepare itself for landing.
However, the ship exploded on impact as it attempted to land after a six-minute flight, KXAS reported.
“Incredible job team, nice work,” a voice on the SpaceX livestream could be heard saying seconds after the explosion, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Despite the explosion, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk quickly shared his enthusiasm for the overall results of the flight test.
“Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed!” Musk tweeted. “Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!”
Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
SN8 was the first multi-engine Starship prototype for the spaceship SpaceX intends to use to carry humans to Mars someday, The Brownsville Herald reported. The three previous prototypes SpaceX has flown from the Texas launching site were fitted with a single Raptor engine and flew no higher than 500 feet, the newspaper reported.
On Tuesday, SpaceX’s planned launch of the SN8 Starship prototype at Boca Chica Beach was aborted at the last second, the Herald reported on Tuesday.
Once repairs are made to the launch pad it is likely the next high-altitude test flight will take place soon using SN9, which is already completed in SpaceX’s Starship Production Complex, according to the Herald.
“Mars, here we come!!” Musk tweeted after Wednesday’s flight.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
Musk announced Tuesday he has moved to Texas, leaving Silicon Valley in California.
SpaceX Starship SN8 successfully lifts off and executes its “flip” maneuver before crash landing in South Texas. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/kc7mcUoGy6
— Brian Curtis (@BrianCurtisNBC5) December 9, 2020
Cox Media Group
