--- title: "Another SpaceX Starship Just Blew Up in a Humongous Explosion" description: "Big Day After nearly a week of drama involving the FAA, SpaceX finally managed to launch its Starship SN9 today from its launch facility at Boca Chica, Texas. The mammoth rocket blasted off just before 3:30pm EST, rising to approximately 10 kilometers before flipping into its “belly flop” maneuver for its descent — and then, […]" date: "2021-02-02" modified: "2021-02-02" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/another-spacex-starship-humongous-explosion" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" tags: - "launch" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "the digest" --- # Another SpaceX Starship Just Blew Up in a Humongous Explosion ![SpaceX tested the latest iteration of its giant Starship rocket today, but unfortunately it exploded, just like the last version.]() *\Image: NASASpaceflight\* ## Big Day After [nearly a week]() of [drama involving the FAA](), SpaceX finally managed to launch its Starship SN9 prototype today from its facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The mammoth rocket blasted off just before 3:30pm EST, rising to approximately 10 kilometers before rotating into its "belly flop" maneuver for its descent — and then, finally, coming down hard and blowing up in a humongous fireball. https://twitter.com/aeopch/status/1356702224957792261 ## Problem Child The ultra-ambitious spacecraft is intended as a multi-purpose vehicle to bring humanity off-planet by ferring cargo and passengers into Earth's orbit, the Moon, and even one day Mars. But so far, the company has struggled to build a prototype that doesn't explode when trying to land. In December, its SN8 model launched in a brief flight very similar to today's — and, also like today's launch, was obliterated in a huge explosion. Rocketry is a challenging business. Way back in 2019, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule [exploded during a test]() — though that vehicle has now been completed and [has flown numerous astronauts]() to and from the International Space Station. ## Next Up It probably won't be long before SpaceX tests the next version of Starship, known as SN10, which is already out on the launch area. SpaceX had not yet commented by press time, nor had CEO Elon Musk, who said recently that he's taking a break from Twitter. However, the incident did bring to mind [something Musk said]() after the December Starship mishap, bragging that the company had put the "crater in the right spot." **More on Starship:** [*David Attenborough Narrates Starship Launch In Hilarious Video*]() ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()