SpaceX celebrating as Starship SN8 aces its high-altitude flight test (science news).
Well done, again, Elon Musk, as his SpaceX firm is celebrating as their Starship SN8 aced its all-important high-altitude flight test.
It successfully lifted off from and ascended, transitioned propellant, and then performed its landing flip maneuver with precise flap control to reach its landing point.
Low pressure in a fuel header tank during the Starship’s landing burn led to a high touchdown velocity and hard, not to mention exciting, ‘landing’.
Fail fast. Fail often. Rince. Repeat.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
Starship landing flip maneuver pic.twitter.com/QuD9HwZ9CX
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 10, 2020