Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Update (1845ET): After initial delays, SpaceX successfully landed a Starship prototype after a high-altitude flight test for the first time on Wednesday, marking a major step forward for Elon Musk’s company in the rocket’s development.
But minutes after softly landing on a concrete pad, the prototype rocket exploded. The cause of the explosion, or whether or not it was intentional, was not immediately clear.
https://twitter.com/Benshooter/status/1367258839175733250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1367258839175733250%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fmarkets%2Fwatch-live-spacex-test-starship-spacecraft
We don’t think that’s supposed to happen…
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Update (1543 ET): About a half-hour after Elon Musk tweeted to his 48.4 million followers: “5 mins to Starship test flight attempt” – 30 minutes later, he follows up the tweet with an explanation behind the aborted launch:
“Launch abort on slightly conservative high thrust limit. Increasing thrust limit & recycling propellant for another flight attempt today.”
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1367213114228318209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Musk does say another launch could happen later today.
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Update (1524 ET): NASASpaceFlight.com’s commentators on the “LIVE: Starship SN10 Flight Test” live stream launch of the SpaceX’s Starship said an “auto abort” has occurred. The reason has yet to be determined.
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1367208741834272783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1367208741834272783%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fmarkets%2Fwatch-live-spacex-test-starship-spacecraft
Here are images of the aborted test flighted.
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SpaceX is preparing to launch another high-altitude flight of Starship.
“SpaceX is set to launch the Starship SN10 prototype to an altitude of approximately 10 kilometers. A launch attempt is possible between 9 am and 6 pm Central time on Wednesday. However, as with testing, there is always a chance that teams could decide to stand down and try again on a different day,” said NASASpaceFlight.com
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1367205667321171968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1367205667321171968%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fmarkets%2Fwatch-live-spacex-test-starship-spacecraft
Watch Live Here:
