SpaceX Starship Explodes in Cloud of Success
SpaceX launched a Starship today because it is 4/20. The rocket lifted off and exploded a few minutes later. Still, it was a huge success for some reason. Here's video of the unmanned mission's grand finale.
FTS abort. Well done Booster 7 (and Ship 24)! That was still a big win. Launch site is fine and got a lot of first stage data!
— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) April 20, 2023
Next up, Booster 9!https://t.co/npUj2AHByW pic.twitter.com/KRxBwsLlKq
UPDATE: Here's full video, which includes lots of cheering because this is supposed to happen.
The biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, Space X's Starship, launches in Texas before a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" during ascenthttps://t.co/hRvf4jIThd pic.twitter.com/XJ8YCayRF2
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 20, 2023
The official SpaceX Twitter account called it a "rapid unscheduled disassembly," which is some incredible spin.
As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 20, 2023
Apparently, that's not a total joke and SpaceX really does consider these mishaps good. Via CNN:
"SpaceX is known to embrace fiery mishaps during the rocket development process. The company maintains that such accidents are the quickest and most efficient way of gathering data, an approach that sets the company apart from its close partner NASA, which prefers slow, methodical testing over dramatic flareups."
Some real breaking some eggs to make an omelet vibes. You just have to wonder when breakfast will actually be served.