Another landmark moment for SpaceX, when they successfully launched and landed its Starship SN10 proto-type today. It was launched to a height of approximately 32, 0000 ft. before securing a remarkable landing, and minutes later the proto-type exploded. Despite the intense wrap up of this launch, the whole event was a remarkable demonstration of SpaceX’s mounting competences.
As has been with previous launches, today’s launch can be viewed on the SpaceX website. This broadcast will show the launch and eventual landing but unfortunately the broadcast ended a few minutes after landing which resulted in the explosion of the proto-type not being captured.
However, fortunately the dramatic end of this launch has been captured elsewhere. This being said, the public can view the end result of a fireball and the Starship’s unexpected bounce back into the air. The explosion happened about 8 minutes after landing and some flames were noticed around the prototype’s base once it landed hinting at the eventual explosion.
All in all it was indeed a huge success for SpaceX who were subject to seeing two of their previous Starship prototype launches end up in startling crashes. On this occasion, viewers had the opportunity of seeing a rocket as it skillfully maneuvered itself and lowered to the ground – a scene that ideally looked as if it was directly from a fiction movie.
The first attempt was aborted due to a thrust issue in one of the prototype’s engines. After re-adjustment and re-fueling, the launch took off ground around three hours later in Boca Chica, Texas. The broadcast was narrated by SpaceX engineer John Insprucker, who quipped after the landing, “Third time’s the charm.”