Watch SpaceX’s Starship Launch and Explode in Crash Landing

A test of a prototype of a rocket that Elon Musk has dreams of sending people to Mars in flew several miles high on Wednesday. But in attempting to land, it hit the ground too fast and exploded.

That was the latest test, partly successful, in the development of next-generation spacecraft built by SpaceX, Mr. Musk’s rocket company.

SpaceX’s live broadcast showed the smoldering remains of the rocket, named Starship, at the company’s test site in southern Texas. “Awesome test,” read text across the screen of the broadcast after the fiery conclusion. “Congratulations, Starship team!”

A voice in the broadcast noted that 911 was being been called.

With the late afternoon sun low on the horizon, the gargantuan stainless steel spacecraft lifted off from a launchpad at 5:45 p.m. After reaching its apogee, it started falling, as planned, tipping over in a controlled glide back to Earth.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/science/spacex-starship-crash.html