SpaceX’s SN10 prototype explodes after completing high-altitude flight test

SpaceX’s Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) prototype rocket has completed a high-altitude flight test and exploded after a successful landing.

The rocket took off from SpaceX’s seaside launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, US.

During the test, the SN10 flew to a 32,800ft altitude before returning to land on a concrete pad a few minutes later.

It descended under active aerodynamic control and all four flaps were actuated by an onboard flight computer.

Until now, the causes of explosion are not yet identified but SpaceX founder Elon Musk refers to them as rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD).

The company in a statement said: “As if the flight test was not exciting enough, SN10 experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after landing. All in all a great day for the Starship teams – these test flights are all about improving our understanding and development of a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration interplanetary flights, and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.”

Built of stainless steel, the SN10 is powered by three Raptor engines, and each were designed to shut down in sequence before reaching a 10km altitude.

The engines reignited during the landing flip manoeuvre immediately before the SN10 touched down on the landing pad.

The company’s two other prototypes (SN8 and SN9) crashed on landing in December and last month.

Both completed several development objectives, including testing aerodynamics, shutting down the engines in succession, and flipping to orient for landing.