SpaceX’s Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) launched Wednesday for its first high altitude flight. Rabeya Lima reports.
- The rocket climbed six miles, hitting its altitude mark, and then prepared to return to the launch pad.
- Viewers tuning in were focused on if it will or will not land, as its predecessors crashed and exploded.
- This is the third time such a flight is being tested. The prototype’s predecessors, SN8 and SN9, which flew on Dec. 9, 2020 and Feb. 2 of this year, respectively, exploded after touching down.
- Elon Musk hailed it ‘landing in one piece’ after being the firm’s first prototype to take flight and make a soft landing.
- However, minutes after the perfect landing SN10 exploded while standing tall on the launch pad.
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft is meant to act as a reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond, according to the company.
