The SN1 prototype of SpaceX Starship rocket burst into flames during a night test at the company’s facility in Texas. The blog NASASpaceflight shared footage of the explosion, as well as the aftermath.
According to the blog, the rocket was loaded with liquid nitrogen fuel for its “cryo proof test.” However, the Starship appeared to have imploded, shooting the top portion to the skies before it landed on the ground.
Elon Musk lamented the mishap on Twitter, but promised to continue improving on the spacecraft. “So… how was your night?” the SpaceX boss wrote as he attached the video of the incident. “It’s fine, we’ll just buff it out,” he added in a follow-up post.
The company has already started assembling the SN2 prototype. Musk told another follower that the next prototype will hopefully be “ready to test in a few days.”
Watch the failed SN1 SpaceX Starship rocket test and setup for SN2 below.
We’re stripping SN2 to bare minimum to test the thrust puck to dome weld under pressure, first with water, then at cryo. Hopefully, ready to test in a few days.