SpaceX has had a fair share of failure building rockets that could change the future of space traveling. One of such is the Starship vehicle prototype which was sent to a high altitude in a test flight.
The company is said to be ready again to retry with the company’s live internet stream saying the target time will be 5: 40 PM ET and said if the plan goes well, then the Starship SN8 will be seen flying to an altitude of 12.5km (41,000 feet) while attempting a record-settling “landing flip maneuver” on its way back to its base.
For a more detailed way to follow the action, the enthusiasts at NASA Spaceflight also have a live feed that broadcasts from multiple angles with live commentary.
Update (6 PM ET): After a successful launch, the Starship rose and successfully maneuvered its way to the landing area. However, it appeared that the spacecraft didn’t slow down enough for a proper landing, and it exploded in thrilling fashion. The moment recalls the many attempts we saw of Falcon 9 landings that didn’t quite work out until, of course, they did.
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Through the live feed, SpaceX stated the test was successful and noted it would be moving on to testing the SN9 prototype next and the company’s CEO Elon Musk tweeted about it saying “Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks and precise flap control to landing point!”
He further explained the landing saying that low fuel header tank pressure during the landing burn contributed to the high touchdown velocity and the explosion.
The good news, is that the team got “all the data we needed” and it appears everything is in order for future tests so not really a failure but a success actually.