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The SpaceX Starship SN8 exploded while landing in rural  Boca Chica, Texas on  Wednesday. The bullet-shaped stainless-steel prototype rocket test lasted six-and-a-half-minutes.

Despite the crash, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and his team consider the flight a success. “Mars, here we come!!” he tweeted. 

The SpaceX Starship SN8 flies high

The SpaceX Starship SN8 was a 4th generation unmanned test rockets. Two test models were sent up earlier this year. They reached altitudes of around 490 feet. An even earlier model, the shorter Starhopper rocket was launched in 2019. Each mission reached somewhat higher altitudes. But the first three flight tests simply did not have enough power.

The SN8 prototype is unique because it has body flaps, a nose cone, and most importantly, three Raptor engines. The extra engines were designed to power the rocket to a higher altitude. SpaceX was trying to send SN8 almost 100 times higher than the previous flight and the rocket finally made it to the stratosphere.

Earlier this week, a cautious Elon Musk said there was “probably” only a one-in-three chance of the test flight of the SN8 Starship succeeding. The objectives of the mission were to launch up to 8 miles (12.5km) high and then maneuver to a landing site.

The starship seemed to hit the altitude mark or at least come very close. 

The full-scale, test rocket was 160ft (50m) tall and 30ft (9m) in diameter. Its flight took place over the Gulf of Mexico. When it reached the target altitude, it proceeded as planned to free-fall back to its landing site. 

The engines then reignited to brake and the rocket was once-again upright. But the touchdown failed when the rocket ship exploded in flames.

The Artemis program gets ready for Mars

In advance of the SpaceX launch, NASA introduced 18 astronauts training for the Mars mission. The U.S. astronauts are scheduled to be on-board Artemis moon-landing program.

Starship SN8 is the rocketship that Elon Musk claims could carry people to Mars in “4 to 6 years.” So despite the explosive landing, SpaceX is happy. 

After all, the rocket was able to hit the right altitude and its guidance system sent the rocket to the correct landing location. The fire started because of low pressure in the fuel tank.

Musk claimed it was a successful mission, despite the crash landing. He tweeted, “But we got all the data we needed!” 

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