It was a sight to behold: SpaceX’s prototype SN8 spacecraft just performed its first high-altitude launch test, which mostly seemed to go quite well, until the very end, when it crashed to the ground in a spectacular ball of fire.
An engine automatically aborted with just 1.3 seconds left in the countdown
But CEO Elon Musk seems to be taking the failure in stride. After all, even when a rocket explodes, the engineers behind it can extract valuable data.
“Mars, here we go!” Musk tweeted immediately after the explosion.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
Resounding success
The test took place this Wednesday in Cameron County, Texas (USA), and, in many ways, it was a resounding success. The massive 50-meter-high structure launched effortlessly into the air, turning onto its side and controlling its descent using its aerodynamic flaps.
“Successful ascent, switch to header tanks and precise flap control to the landing point!” The aerospace mogul specified.
What caused the explosion on landing?
“The head tank pressure was low during the descent maneuver, causing the touchdown speed to be high and causing an unscheduled quick disassembly. But we got all the data we needed, “explained SpaceX, adding that” with a test like this, success is not measured by meeting specific goals, but by how much we can learn together, which will inform and improve the likelihood of success. in the future”.
SpaceX’s #Starship prototype SN8 explodes on impact during its attempted landing pic.twitter.com/bnmC6SqqAc
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 9, 2020
For his part, Musk proved to be in a very good mood and satisfied with what happened. In fact, prior to testing, he had estimated that the flight had only a third chance of total success.
SpaceX has already completed two successful “jumps” of previous prototypes, raising them just 150 meters earlier this year.
Starship is the company’s flagship heavy-lift rocket that is destined to one day carry up to 100 passengers to distant destinations, including the Moon and Mars.
Source: Futurism
