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SpaceX described the landing of the spacecraft as “ difficult (and exciting!) ”. Here is everything we know so far about the accident.
SpaceX’s latest test flight ended in flames, after a new prototype spacecraft landed and performed its highest flight.
It was SpaceX’s first major flight test of its Starship spacecraft, a completely reusable spacecraft designed to be used as a long-life cargo and eventually a passenger transport vehicle.
The spacecraft, named SN8, reached a height of 12.5 km (7.8 miles) before the forced landing. No one was on board.
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Before the test, SpaceX described the test flight as “an exciting next step in the development of a fully reusable transportation system capable of transporting both crew and cargo to orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. “.
Here is everything we know so far.
The private spaceflight company founded by Elon Musk launched its shiny, bullet-shaped starship straight out of science fiction several miles into the air from a remote corner of Texas on Wednesday, December 9.
The launch had already been delayed by various factors, but Starship finally took off at 4.45pm local time (10.45pm UK time), with only 15 minutes left until its designated launch window was closed.
The rover had to perform its complicated landing sequence once it had reached its target height, flipping in the air with “precise wing control” and returning to Earth.
A couple of minutes after the test flight, it appeared as if the underside of the craft had caught fire, although the flames were extinguished and the test flight was able to continue.
But the six and a half minute test flight ended in an explosive fireball upon landing.
According to SpaceX, “the low pressure in the fuelhead tank during the landing burn led to a high landing speed that resulted in a difficult (and exciting!) Landing.”
No one was aboard the spacecraft, which is designed primarily as a cargo vehicle, and recent SpaceX manned flights have been far more successful.
The mission was the SpaceX Crew Dragon program’s first operational flight to the International Space Station, following the successful demonstration flight by Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in May.
The crew will remain on the ISS for six months and return to Earth after another crew launched by SpaceX joined them for a short delivery.
The next crew launched by SpaceX is scheduled to take off on March 30, 2021.
Shortly after the conclusion of the test flight, SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted: “Successful climb, switch to header tanks, and precise control of the flaps to the landing point.”
He also seemed to poke fun at the end of the flight’s fireball, also tweeting, “Mars, here we go!”
What does the accident mean?
Despite its fiery end, the test flight was not a complete failure, and the spacecraft managed to successfully complete a number of other tests before its journey ended.
SpaceX that Starship “successfully ascended, transitioned from the thruster, and performed its landing flip maneuver with precise fin control to reach its landing point”
The dramatic end of the test flight was not entirely unexpected, either, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk predicting only a one in three chance that the launch and landing would be successful before the test.
The SpaceX facility at Boca Chica in Texas will again host a similar test flight in the near future; the next Starship SN9 prototype is already built.
“As we venture into new territory, we continue to appreciate all the support and encouragement we have received,” SpaceX said in a statement prior to testing, “SpaceX said.
How can I watch the launch?
