---
title: "SpaceX’s Next Starship Prototype Appears to Have Fallen Over"
description: "SpaceX's SN9 Starship prototype has had a bit of a tumble, leaning onto its side inside its assembly building. Luckily, it's already upright again."
date: "2020-12-14"
modified: "2020-12-14"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-starship-prototype-fallen-over"
categories:
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "Starship"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "Starship"
  - "the digest"
---

# SpaceX’s Next Starship Prototype Appears to Have Fallen Over

![SpaceX's SN9 Starship prototype has had a bit of a tumble, leaning onto its side inside its assembly building. Luckily, it's already upright again.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/spacex-starship-prototype-tumble.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: BocaChicaGal via Twitter\</em\>*

## Leaning Tower

SpaceX's SN8 Starship prototype may have gone up in a [massive fireball](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-starship-explodes-spectacular-fireball>) after an [otherwise strong showing](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-reaction-spacex-starship-explosion>) during the spacecraft's first high-altitude test flight last week — but the space company isn't about to slow down.

A new setback, though, seems to have come for its next prototype, dubbed SN9. The colossal 165 foot stainless steel spacecraft seemingly took a tumble over the weekend, collapsing onto its side inside the Texas assembly building in which it was stored, as [*Teslarati* reports](<https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-prototype-sn9-damaged/>).

https://twitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/1337424248260993024

## Holding On

Photos show the massive structure leaning on its side like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with the sides of the industrial building holding it upright. Its aerodynamic side flaps seem to have taken the brunt of the tumble, *Teslarati* points out.

Luckily, SN9 is in good hands. A video uploaded by *NASASpaceflight* show a massive crane stabilizing the prototype.

https://youtu.be/qOa814vAi58

SpaceX initially had planned on rolling SN9 out onto the launch pad today, but the accident seems to have delayed those plans.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has yet to comment on the mishap.

**READ MORE:** [SpaceX almost drops finished Starship prototype – but it might be salvageable](<https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-prototype-sn9-damaged/>) \[*Teslarati*\]

**More on Starship:** *[Amazing Video Shows Starship Explosion in Incredible Detail](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazing-video-shows-starship-explosion-incredible-detail>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)