Space Coast, FL – Today, Starship serial number 8 (SN8) lifted off from SpaceX’s launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, USA. This suborbital flight was designed to test a number of objectives. We can say it hit, mostly all of them. This is a huge stepping stone in reaching Mars.
Starship Objectives
After lift off, Starship SN8 successfully ascended, transitioned propellant, and performed its landing flip maneuver with precise flap control to reach its landing point.
Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point! https://t.co/IIraiESg5M
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
Another impressive thing was to see Starship SN8 re-orientate itself to a vertical position. The Raptors had started up not once, but twice in this flight test, which is truly amazing.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
The landing was on target, just not as expected. Low pressure in the fuel header tank during the landing burn led to high touchdown velocity resulting in a hard (and exciting!) landing.
This is history in the making and get ready, because Starship SN9 is up next!
Catch a replay of the entire live coverage of Starship SN8 flight test
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