Amazing first flight, stable back flip and descent. The flip back to vertical was very smooth. Apparently the fuel header tank pressure dropped so they lost power just before touchdown.

Video here;

Yup, too much oxidiser in the fuel mix as shown by the green flame. Possibly due to copper pipework being consumed as the system does not use TEB as an ignition source. (TEB was used in the SR-71 which gave a lovely green flash at engine start).

A tremendous effort, a perfect launch, precise manoeuvring, recovery to the vertical, a pinpoint landing ...........but just a bit fast due to low fuel pressure.

The Times, London:

SpaceX launched its prototype Mars rocketship on a pioneering high-altitude test flight last night, defying the odds to send its Starship SN8 vehicle soaring over the Gulf of Mexico before a fiery crash landing.

In an audacious feat that even Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder and chief executive, had given low odds of success, the 50m vehicle pulled off a spectacular sequence of steps to test its three Raptor engines and aerodynamic capabilities.

“We got all the data we needed. Congrats to the SpaceX team. Hell yeah!... Mars here we come!” Mr Musk tweeted.......

The prototype’s explosive landing was considered a mere blip in an otherwise victorious trial that allowed engineers to accomplish the primary goals of testing its Raptor engines and aerodynamic capabilities.

Its successful ascent, about-turn at high altitude, descent and final preparation for landing checked off critical boxes on SpaceX’s “to do” list, before a loss of pressure in the propellant tanks that control the landing speed caused it to hit the ground too fast.

Musk referred to the impact as an ‘RUD’, an acronym for ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ - engineers’ tongue-in-cheek euphemism for a crash.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin – a rocket company also developing lunar capabilities – and founder and chief executive officer of Amazon, stated last night: “Anybody who knows how hard this stuff is is impressed by today’s Starship test. Big congrats to the whole SpaceX team.”

Caused by an engine rich fuel supply.

The point to make is the rapid prototyping undertaken by SpaceX means that SN9 is just about finished and ready to roll out and parts have been delivered for assembly up to SN14.....

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-bac...one-installed/

SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN14 parts arrive

I think it was oxidiser rich as they lost pressure in the fuel header tank.

Yes, which caused an excessive and unplanned presence of engine material in the combustion chamber. My comment was tongue in cheek ;)

Ah yes, sorry. I'm still a bit giddy from the whole experience. :\

Brilliant synopsis from Marcus House here, and some epic new footage from SpaceX

The next one due to launch suffered damage when its stand collapsed and it fell over inside the highbay and ended up leaning on the highbay structure itself.

Twitter

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cb577cd84.jpeg

One for the Douglas Adam fans:

Not to mention the bowl of petunias

Oh, no! Not again!

Love the HHGTTG refs. :ok:

Anyway, the good news is SN9 is now vertical again, after they moved the big crane (Tankzilla) and lifted it on to a new stand.
Looks like one of the lower fins/flaps will need replacing. At least.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-cru...-reuse-record/

SpaceX crushes commercial Falcon 9 reuse record with radio satellite launch

SpaceX has crushed its commercial Falcon 9 reuse record with the successful December 13th launch of Sirius XM’s newest radio satellite while simultaneously debuting fairing reuse on customer missions.

Weighing around 7 metric tons (~15,400 lb) at liftoff, the SXM-7 spacecraft was carried aloft by Falcon 9 booster B1051, marking the rocket’s seventh successful launch and landing and the first time SpaceX has used a four-flight, five-flight, or six-flight booster on a non-Starlink mission.......

Up next for SpaceX is the launch of a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. That mission is scheduled to lift off from NASA's historic Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Thanks ORAC, I missed that one.
Another successful Electron launch this morning too.
SpaceX also have another Falcon 9 launch lined up for Thursday.

Oh and Virgin Galactic had what appears to be an abortive test of their suborbital Spaceship 2.


Its hard to keep up.

Anyway, good news is that SN9 has been moved and the damage appears, at first glance anyway, to be the upper and lower fins only. Replacement fins are on site ready to fit. Some good views here...

Successful NRO satellite launch and booster recovery to the launch site.

Is there a reason why all SpaceX activity is confined to this one thread ?
I've been following the activities in South Texas over the weeks and months, and most of it is about an entirely different model of rocket, with different engines.
Could I suggest that there should be a second thread for SpaceX activity in Texas, or alternatively rename this one something like Everything SpaceX ?

Feel free to start a new thread.

Meanwhile, incredible new images of yesterday's launch. Close up of the stage separation and boost back.