starship explosion

Image via Twitter: @SpaceX

Watch: SpaceX’s Starship SN-9 prototype explodes after high-altitude flight test [video]

Another Starship prototype goes up in flames.

starship explosion

Image via Twitter: @SpaceX

SpaceX carried out a high-altitude flight test for its Starship SN9 prototype rocket this week; the rocket is being perfected for deep space exploration. The test was successful, but unfortunately the flight ended in a fiery explosion. Again.

You’ll recall the Starship SN8 exploded after a successful altitude test on Wednesday 8 December 2020 as well. Space founder Elon Musk explained at the time that the landing speed was the cause of the crash crash.

He said the take-off, the change of position in flight, and its precise landing trajectory was faultless. SpaceX called the SN8 mission a success and said the data would be used to improve future prototypes. And yet…

Screenshot starship explosion

Starship SN9 explosion: What went wrong

Starship SN9 on 3 February 2021 performed a largely successful altitude test flight with three Raptor engines onboard. The rocket reached the targeted altitude of 10 km. The engines were then switched off for the “bellyflop” manoeuvre.

This way, the prototype rocket was able to use its four flaps and return to Earth. A successful belly flop would see the rocket firing up two of its engines to flip itself back in an upright position.

It would then use a single-engine for a landing burn. Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong at this point. The rocket descended to Earth at high speed, hit the landing pad, and exploded.

Watch: Starship SN9 explodes, again

The complete launch window – all five hours of it – can be viewed here. The Prelaunch window opens at the 2 hour 54 minute mark.

Don’t fret. Blowing up a rocket is nothing new to SpaceX crew. They routinely blew up Falcon 9 rockets back in 2015 when it was still in development. Today, the Falcon 9 is one of SpaceX’s finest spacecraft.

The data collected will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances the development of Starship, especially as the construction of other prototypes are nearing completion.

As per the company’s website, the altitude test flight’s “success is not measured by completion of specific objectives”, but rather how much the company can learn”.

Screenshot starship explosion

Starship to take humanity to Mars

Despite how it looks, SpaceX is making progress. The Starship SN8 prototype was the largest test version in the Starship programme to successfully “hop” to an altitude of 150 metres (not including the Starhopper’s tests back in 2019).

Starhopper was the very first version and was retired back in 2019 after completing its second and final untethered flight. That said, the Starship programme is still in its early stages.

The SN8 hop test relied on only one Raptor engine mounted at the base of the prototype, while the final Starship spacecraft will have six main Raptor engines.