Hyperdrive
SpaceX’s Second Starship Test Ends in Another Fireball
- Company is using 10-kilometer hops to collect flight data
- December attempt also ended in crash landing of prototype
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Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s second test flight of its new deep-space vehicle ended in another explosive fireball after one of the prototype’s engines appeared not to reignite during the landing attempt.
The Starship SN-9 lifted off from SpaceX’s seaside launch pad at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday in Boca Chica, Texas, based on live video streamed by NASASpaceflight.com. The rocket then flew to an altitude of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
The spacecraft appeared to be stable as it executed a “belly flip” maneuver before one of its three Raptor engines reignited to reorient the craft for landing. Ignition of a second engine used to slow the Starship for landing may not have performed as expected. No people were on board.