SpaceX has launched SN10 — the tenth iteration of its current prototype series of Starship, the heavy-lift reusable spacecraft it’s developing. Starship SN10 took off from Boca Chica, Texas, where SpaceX is developing the vehicle.
It flew to a height of roughly 10 km, or 32,000 feet, before performing a maneuver to re-orient itself for a friction-assisted landing descent.
A fire then developed around its base and eight minutes later SN10 blew itself apart on the landing pad.
Nevertheless, the high-altitude flight test in Boca Chica, Texas, represented success for business magnate Elon Musk’s aerospace company.
Musk appeared to laugh off the explosion after the landing in a tweet on Wednesday night.
"Starship SN10 landed in one piece!" the SpaceX CEO wrote.
SN10 was launched shortly before 6.15pm ET fueled by three Raptor engines.
