Shocking footage has emerged of SpaceX's Starship prototype heading off for a test flight, before exploding on landing.
The test flight had been widely-anticipated among space buffs...
The crash ended up causing a huge explosion. Keep scrolling to see the video of the moment for yourself...
Now, we've all wondered about the mystery of what's above us.
What lives beyond our planet, so to speak.
Gradually, more and more astronauts are venturing out there.
And in the latest mission to do so, SpaceX has been testing a starship bound for Mars.
But yesterday disaster struck...
Now, ever since SpaceX has been on the scene, we have seen an iconic collaboration.
via: Getty Images
The 2 giant space organizations, SpaceX and Nasa, launched their first-ever spacecraft equipped with its own crew in May last year.
The journey started in Cape Canaveral in Florida.
via: Getty Images
The mission carried NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the ISS as part of their Crew Dragon human spacecraft development program.The launch began at 4:33 P.M. EDT.
Targeting 4:33 p.m. EDT today for Falcon 9’s launch of Crew Dragon with @NASA astronauts on board. Teams are closel… https://t.co/L9I3rKcFDt— SpaceX (@SpaceX)1590583973.0
The weather.
via: Getty Images
But the conditions remained stable, and the spacecraft took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.BBC News' science correspondent, Johnathan Amos, previously gave this warning:
via: Getty Images
"SpaceX and Nasa also need to listen to what the meteorologists are telling them about the conditions along the flight line in the event that the Dragon has to abort its ascent. If something goes wrong with its rocket, the capsule will need to splashdown somewhere along a swathe of ocean that stretches all the way up the eastern seaboard of the US and reaches across to the British Isles."He continued:
via: Getty Images
"SpaceX has designated certain zones where the crew would ditch, and each one has to have benign wave and wind conditions. If any of these zones step outside the permitted criteria, the launch will not proceed… Even if it’s a beautiful day back in Florida. And just to add to the complication, a tropical storm has formed off South Carolina."So why was last year's launch so important?
via: Getty Images
Well, it was the final mission (of The Demo-2) and was said to help to determine if the Falcon 9, "the rocket that carries it to orbit," would be certified for regular use by NASA.
On the way to the International Space Station, the rocket gave us some really important evidence.
Docking confirmed – Crew Dragon has arrived at the @space_station! https://t.co/KiKBpZ8R2H— SpaceX (@SpaceX)1590934713.0
Well, images taken from the spacecraft showed us what the rest of us knew to be true...
Falcon 9 lifts off from historic Launch Complex 39A and sends Crew Dragon to orbit on its first flight with @NASA a… https://t.co/NrU5zWwoKS— SpaceX (@SpaceX)1590889069.0
Safe to say, there was a big reaction.
Tune in to hear @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug on Crew Dragon and for live views of Earth → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK https://t.co/P5nxAyAJFn— SpaceX (@SpaceX)1590922177.0
And now, SpaceX has hit headlines once again but this time things haven't quite gone to plan...
In SpaceX's latest test to send a spacecraft to Mars...
Starships at sunset at SpaceX Boca Chica. 😍🚀🔥
— Mary (@BocaChicaGal) February 2, 2021
@NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/K5JtAH1qVd
It exploded.
The incident happened on February 2nd, when the Starship SN9 prototype left SpaceX's Boca Chica facility in Texas.
Starships SN9 and SN10 at SpaceX’s South Texas launch site, as seen from the air. @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/0ENErjFaIb
— Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) January 30, 2021
The spacecraft climbed to roughly 10km above the Texas Gulf coast.
It then descended where it should have performed a complex manoeuvre for landing.
Our Star peaking through the clouds over SpaceX’s South Texas launch site last night at sunset. @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/K0cbTSOKpD
— Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) February 1, 2021
But, after failing to do so, the starship came crashing down on the landing pad.
And the SN9 burst into flames.
Stacked progression image of today’s launch and hard landing of #Starship SN9 at #SpaceX’s South Texas launch site!
— John Kraus 📷🚀 (@johnkrausphotos) February 2, 2021
One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.
Full gallery + prints: https://t.co/1DmVCj3QlW pic.twitter.com/RoorKvzg6A
Fortunately, the test required no crew members onboard.
SpaceX webcast commentator John Insprucker said about the scene, "Remember, this was a test flight, the second time we've flown Starship in this configuration."
Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you learn. One step at a time. #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/NZKFLHhFLZ
— Daniel Pérez (@Danisaski) February 2, 2021
"We've just got to work on that landing a little bit."
In a post on the SpaceX website, they explained, "The Starship prototype descended under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of 2 forward and 2 aft flaps on the vehicle."
Landing pad is clear and waiting. #SpaceX #BocaChica #Texas #Starship pic.twitter.com/Cy1XPrJfmn
— LabPadre (@LabPadre) January 28, 2021
"All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship's attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. During the landing flip maneuver, one of the Raptor engines did not relight and caused SN9 to land at high speed and experience a RUD."
"These test flights are all about improving our understanding and development of a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond."
Starship SN9, SpaceX's early prototype for a rocket the company hopes will carry the first humans to Mars, exploded on landing during a test flight. It's the second test in a row for SpaceX that's ended in a fiery crash. https://t.co/gTP3YHCjQC pic.twitter.com/op5lgk3Mdm
— CNN (@CNN) February 3, 2021
You can watch the footage of the crash above.
To learn more about SpaceX, scroll on for the background of its controversial founder, Elon Musk...