SpaceX Starship explodes on landing during a test
SpaceX’s prototype rocket took to the skies today (February 2) after a long month fraught with delays, bad weather and regulatory chaos. Starship Serial Number 9 (SN9) launched from the company’s Boca Chica facility in South Texas, where it stood on the launchpad next to the SN10 iteration. The rocket’s three Raptor engines roared to life just after 8.25pm GMT (2.45pm CST), propelling the spacecraft on a 6.2 mile (10km hop).
After the rocket climbed to its desired altitude, SN9 cut off its engines and tipped over to its side in a manoeuvre known as the belly flop.
SN9 then fell to the ground without powered guidance and instead controlled its descent using four flaps on its sides.
Just seconds before the rocket reached the ground, SN9 flipped upright again and fired its engines for a soft landing attempt.
Unfortunately, this is when the test flight went pear-shaped for SN9 as the rocket failed to stick the landing.
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As Starship crashed into the launchpad it erupted into a great ball of flame.
The crash mirrored in many ways the failed attempt to land Starship SN8 last December.
SpaceX fans have now flocked to social media to share their mix of excitement and disappointment at how the events unfolded.
One person said: “No No Noooo… Don’t worry. Let’s try again next time.”
Another person said: “Looks like #SpaceXStarship are just as shoddy as the #teslamodel3, bad workmanship when you rush something that’s supposed to be amazing work… Don’t worry, we won’t tell…”
Why did the Starship SN9 crash today?
SpaceX looked ready to ace the launch and landing of the SN9 up until the soft landing attempt.
Moments before hitting the ground, SN9 fired its Raptor engines and flipped upright.
At least one of the engines appears to have malfunctioned, however, as the rocket tipped over backwards seconds after ignition.
A close-up video of Starship shows a blowout in one of the engines and pieces of rocket debris were seen flying out from spacecraft.
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SpaceX Starship explodes whilst attempting to land during test
According to rocket scientist and YouTuber Scott Manley, one of the Raptors never lit and the SN9 did not generate enough thrust to slow down.
Mr Manley tweeted out clips of the failed ignition, saying: “Watch the debris leaving the engine, probably not all the thrust going out the nozzle.”
In another tweet, he said: “You can see there’s propellant flowing, but the second engine isn’t generating thrust.”
Despite the fiery conclusion to today’s test flight, SpaceX will likely look at the overall mission as a success.
A SpaceX commentator said on the official launch live stream: “We had another great flight. We’ve just got to work on that landing a little bit.”
When the SN8 crashed last December, SpaceX said low pressure in the fuel header tank during the landing burn resulted in a high-velocity landing.
In other words, the rocket’s fuel header tank experienced low pressure during descent.
The low pressure caused the rocket to land too quickly and the SN9 crumpled up and exploded.
Despite, SpaceX chief Elon Musk said “we got all the data we needed”.
SpaceX fans will now wait for news of the Starship SN10 launching next.
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