Space X - Successful launch then boom

[visibility3miles]

https://www.space.com/spacex-starshi...il-2023-photos

SpaceX's Starship did not disappoint on its first test flight.The 394-foot-tall (120 meters) Starship, the world's biggest and most powerful rocket, took off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas at 9:33 a.m. EDT (1333 GMT; 8:33 a.m. local Texas time) on April 20, 2023. Powered by 33 Raptor engines, Starship roared through the morning sky to the delight of spectators gathered on nearby South Padre Island.

Starship didn't fly for long, however. The massive stainless steel vehicle apparently encountered an issue separating from its Super Heavy rocket booster a few minutes into its flight. After tumbling through the air, the huge rocket exploded in what SpaceX calls a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" just under four minutes after launch.

​​​​​​​https://videos.space.com/m/ZFdn8Xr7/...?list=9wzCTV4g

[visibility3miles]

Apparently 6 of the 33 engines weren’t firing during lift off, then when the first stage didn’t separate, it kept firing and the engines weren’t cut off.

More details should follow.

[Winemaker]

Originally Posted by visibility3miles

Apparently 6 of the 33 engines weren’t firing during lift off, then when the first stage didn’t separate, it kept firing and the engines weren’t cut off.

More details should follow.

Yes, the unlit engines were very visible during stern shots of the ascent.

[visibility3miles]

But, watching the video, maybe they weren’t supposed to light until later?

Actually, they were all supposed to work.

Still, the first stage was meant to detach.

”The goal was to gather information.”

[Uncle Fred]

I'm a bit confused. Musk’s employees were cheering when the rocket came to grief. I understand it was an achievement for the engines to hoist it from the pad, but it exploding certainly was not anticipated. Seems a rather expensive proof of concept.

[Senior Pilot]

Discussion here; SpaceX flight testing in South Texas