The world’s most powerful rocket, 500-foot-tall Starship was launched Thursday by SpaceX but exploded just minutes after clearing the launch pad. The massive uncrewed rocket, packed with almost 10 million pounds of liquid oxygen and highly volatile liquid natural gas fuel launched a few minutes after the liftoff window opened at 8:28am local time in Texas, but started to tumble, ending in flames.
Today’s launch was the second try as Starship was originally scheduled to test on Monday, but the attempt was scrubbed due to a frozen valve.
SpaceX CEO and chief engineer, Elon Musk cautioned the media Sunday the likelihood of success was low and stated merely clearing the launch pad and getting to separation of the first and second phases would represent a successful test flight considering the size and intricacy of the vehicle.
Musk said, “So I guess I would just like to set expectations low. If we get far enough away from the launch pad before something goes wrong, then I think I would consider that to be a success. Just don’t blow up the launch pad.”
Intended to eventually transport up to 100 people on interplanetary flights, Starship’s flight test will “inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship,” SpaceX stated.
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