SpaceX's SN10 Starship sticks the landing -- and then explodes
This Starship prototype was the first one to launch twice, and the third one to blow up.
After a last-second abort earlier today, SpaceX launched the SN10 Starship on a high-altitude flight test that took it 10 km above the Earth. The main difference between this test and earlier flights is that not only did it properly maneuver through a flip, it also landed softly back on the pad at Boca Chica, TX — no explosions involved.
Update (6:36 PM ET): So, about the no explosions thing — just moments after it landed and SpaceX's live feed cut off, SN10 joined its predecessors by exploding on the pad. NASASpaceflight captured the event — which Elon Musk called an "honorable discharge" via their own cameras. Hopefully we'll have more details soon on what went right, and what didn't.
An amazing shot of Starship SN10's post-landing Rapid Unplanned Disassembly (RUD) after Wednesday's test flight.
➡️https://t.co/bOsEo1u0u0 pic.twitter.com/FmNtYBFmIe— Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) March 3, 2021