Wednesday, December 9, 2020

SpaceX Update: The Starship SN8 Prototype Conducts a Successful Test Flight (with an Explosive Ending)!

The Starship SN8 rocket is about to launch on a 12.5-kilometer (41,000-feet) test flight above Boca Chica Beach in South Texas...on December 9, 2020.
SpaceX

Less than four hours ago, the Starship Serial No. 8 (SN8) prototype rocket lifted off from SpaceX's launch facility at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. The flight was a 12.5-kilometer (41,000-feet) hop that was supposed to end with SN8 conducting a high-altitude belly flop prior to going vertical again for a rocket-powered touchdown several meters from its launch pedestal. The belly flop and everything that came before that happened as planned; it was the explosive landing (caused by two of the three Raptor engines shutting down early due to low pressure in the header tank at the top of the vehicle—according to Elon Musk's tweet below) that was unwarranted...but not unexpected!


Despite the unfortunate fiery finale to today's historic test for Starship, the aerial demonstration was immensively successful. The SpaceX team gathered all of the data it needed to ensure that the next Mars rocket prototype, Starship SN9, will stick the landing next time. This vehicle's flight can happen in a matter of weeks... Ground personnel only need to remove SN8's wreckage from the landing pad before SN9 will be ready to resume SpaceX's bid to revolutionize human spaceflight with what was formerly called the Big Falcon Rocket. Ad astra will soon take on new meaning.

The Starship SN8 rocket begins its 12.5-kilometer (41,000-feet) hop from the SpaceX launch facility at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas...on December 9, 2020.
SpaceX

As seen from a camera near the pad directly below, the Starship SN8 rocket descends for what would be an explosive landing at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas...on December 9, 2020.
SpaceX

After a very successful in-flight test, the Starship SN8 rocket explodes after touching down too hard on the landing pad at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas...on December 9, 2020.
SpaceX

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