Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Starship bloopers: Watch Elon Musk's Mars ferry prototype explode on the pad during liquid nitrogen test

‘We'll just buff it out’ says SpaceX biz baron

Video Video footage has emerged of SpaceX's Starship prototype dramatically blowing up on the pad.

The Starship SN1 prototype was undergoing pressure testing at the Musketeers' factory at Boca Chica in Texas, USA, by filling its tanks with liquid nitrogen. The base of the rocket appears to have ruptured, sending the structure crashing to the ground, which you can see here:

Youtube Video

earth_space

I'm sorry, Elon. I'm afraid I can't do that... SpaceX touts robo-rides for orbital vacations, lift-off in 2021-ish

READ MORE

SpaceX supremo Elon Musk himself seemed sanguine about the whole affair, taking to Twitter to say: “It’s fine, we’ll just buff it out. Where’s Flextape when you need it!?”

It’s entirely possible this was a scheduled test-to-destruction for the prototype which, when ready and in its final form, Elon wants to use for regular trips to Mars. Or it could be that someone was lax on their welding, leading to Friday's explosion.

A second prototype, SN2, is already being built, Musk said, and will be stripped down to the bare minimum of hardware before being filled with water and then cryogenic fuel for pressure testing. Many more iterations are planned before Musk can fulfill his dream of using the Starship as a vehicle to set up a self-sustaining colony on Mars. ®

 

Similar topics

Similar topics

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like