SpaceX Starship from Mechazilla-caught rocket exploded after landing

On Sunday, the world witnessed the remarkable landing of the first stage of SpaceX's rocket on the automated "arms" of the Mechazilla tower. However, the Starship itself exploded.

The test flight on October 13 was a tremendous success and a triumph for the engineers. The first stage of the rocket landed "flawlessly" on the tower, merely melting the fins. Many reports noted that the second part, meaning the spacecraft, successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean. While this formulation is technically accurate for the tests, it doesn't convey the drama of the moment. An explosion occurred shortly after it submerged in the water.

The upper part of the rocket, measuring 50 meters in length, completed an exemplary flight, orbiting the Earth for nearly an hour. Just before the splashdown, the Starship "rolled onto its back" to slow down its descent further. The spacecraft then ignited its engines to correct itself and reduce the descent speed above the ocean's surface.

Starship Flight 5 Splashdown! @SpaceX‘s Starship vehicle has successfully soft-landed in the Indian Ocean, then tipped over and appeared to explode as it fell into the sea. ‘Starship has landed,' SpaceX says. Recovery was never intended for this Ship. pic.twitter.com/TTBVGOJVpY

— Tariq J. Malik (@tariqjmalik) October 13, 2024

But just a few seconds later, a camera in the water captured an explosion in the form of a massive fireball. This spectacle marked a dramatic conclusion to the test launch that made history in spaceflight. A message on X Twitter highlights that this ship was never intended for recovery.

The official SpaceX account congratulated the team on the "exciting fifth flight test of Starship." The explosion is also visible at the end of the video in the post, which Elon Musk noted showcased the precision of the landing as per the test objectives.

Ship landed precisely on target!

Second of the two objectives achieved. https://t.co/aMnllnkyzP

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 13, 2024

"The ship landed precisely on target! The second of the two objectives has been achieved."

The explosion was a dramatic and visually striking event, but it was not surprising during testing. Clearly, SpaceX has work to do before the next tests, which are expected in a few months after preparations and obtaining approvals.

Source: The Byte