SpaceX launched a successful test of its 16-storey high Starship SN8 rocket prototype on Wednesday afternoon, at its pad in Boca Chica, Texas.
The SN8 prototype launched 41,000 feet into the air (12.5 km), and despite 2 of 3 Raptor engines cutting out (it was planned says Elon), Starship continued its ascent. On the descent, the rocket rotated to its belly as it fell back down to Earth.
Eventually, its Raptor engines fired back on to rotate the rocket vertically, then attempted to land, which it almost did, but sadly exploded on impact, after a nearly seven-minute flight.
“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!!”, exclaimed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk afterwards.
“Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!”, added Musk. The CEO previously stated there was a 33% chance of a successful landing for Starship SN8.
SpaceX's #Starship prototype SN8 explodes on impact during its attempted landing pic.twitter.com/bnmC6SqqAc
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 9, 2020
“AWESOME TEST. CONGRATS STARSHIP TEAM!” wrote the SpaceX team on the live feed, after the test.
Despite what looked like a fail for the landing, Musk was stoked about the successful launch, saying, “Mars, here we come!!”.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
SpaceX has numerous Starship prototypes on hand and each flight test provides essential data for the next flights, with the rocket’s eventual goal of sending humans to Mars.
The company will eventually plan to fly a larger booster known as the Super Heavy, which towers 23-storeys and will have 24 Raptor engines, to launch Starship to space.
RIP starship sn8 2020-2020
Additional shots of the landing.
What a wildly successful test flight for @elonmusk, @spacex and the entire team here in texas. The data from this is going to make sn9 even better🚀
📸 for @arstechnica⚙️/⬇️/🖼: https://t.co/GXMV2sIfDs pic.twitter.com/PyasiA6Qz9
— Trevor Mahlmann📸 (@TrevorMahlmann) December 9, 2020
Check out the full replay below:
