SpaceX : the "Starship" rocket explodes just after landing

In its third test, a prototype of SpaceX's giant "Starship" rocket landed successfully for the first time, before crashing.

AFP

While two previous prototypes had crashed into huge fireballs on landing, this time a prototype of SpaceX's giant Starship rocket landed in one piece on Wednesday, March 3, in Texas, before exploding on the ground minutes later. "Starship SN10 landed in one piece! "SpaceX founder Elon Musk reacted in a tweet an hour after the explosion.

Starship SN10 landed in one piece! https://t.co/lO4AF47MaN - Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 4, 2021

"The SpaceX team is doing a great job! One day, the true measure of success will be the fact that Starship flights have become commonplace," added the whimsical billionaire in a second tweet. "A beautiful, smooth landing," SpaceX commentator John Insprucker first announced in the live video broadcast of the test flight.

However, flames were visible at the base of the rocket being extinguished by the teams on site. A few minutes later, a huge explosion threw the spacecraft into the air, which then shattered as it fell back to the ground. No immediate explanation was given as this vehicle is destined to become SpaceX's rocket of choice to one day travel to Mars.

The prototype, named SN10, for Serial Number 10, took off shortly before 23:20 GMT from Boca Chica, Texas, for a third suborbital test. The spacecraft climbed into the sky, powered by three engines that shut down one after the other, and the vehicle flipped to a horizontal position. It reached the 10-kilometer altitude, the goal set for this flight, before beginning its descent. The rocket then returned to a vertical position, landing at the desired location before crashing a few minutes later.

Future trips to the Moon before conquering Mars

Two other prototypes (SN8 and SN9) crashed on landing in December 2020 and early February. These tests are taking place in an almost deserted area, empty enough so that an accident or explosion will not cause damage or casualties. Leased by SpaceX, this area is located in the extreme south of Texas, near the border with Mexico and on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

Elon Musk imagines one day launching several of these spaceships to conquer Mars, even if, initially, the rocket, if it became operational, could prove useful for closer trips, especially to the Moon. It is aboard this vehicle that the Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is supposed to go around the Moon, in theory in 2023, a trip at a confidential price where he invited eight people "from all over the world" to join him.

The future rocket will be composed, in addition to the manned vessel, of a first stage called Super Heavy. It will be 120 meters high and will be capable of carrying 100 tons on board.

Source: AFP