SpaceX Starship prototype explodes on landing in a test flight accident

According to the news, the US space exploration technology company SpaceX successfully released the latest prototype of the interplanetary spacecraft SN9, but it exploded when it returned to land. SpaceX has not announced the cause of the explosion.

It is worth mentioning that the company’s previous SN8 prototype also exploded during landing. SN9 is the ninth prototype of SpaceX’s interstellar spacecraft that was released at SpaceX’s Texas test site.

According to the plan, it will fly into the air at an altitude of more than 10 kilometers, then make a turn in the air, and after leveling off, it will begin to lower its altitude and prepare to return to the landing. In this test fire, SN9 reached the predetermined height and completed its posture adjustment.

After reaching an altitude of about 1.5 kilometers on the surface, the spacecraft entered a vertical state again and was about to land, but it exploded a few seconds before touching the ground just like the last time. The entire flight lasted 6 minutes and 26 seconds.

This is the second launch of SpaceX’s interstellar spacecraft into an altitude above 10 kilometers. The first launch was carried out on December 10 last year.

It also exploded and disintegrated during landing, but the test was still deemed successful because its primary goal was not to land, but to check the rocket’s movements in the air, including turning and sliding to the surface. Maneuverability at a time, operating status of each system, etc.

(Source)