As with the crash test of the previous Starship SN8 prototype last December, the current test program included flying to an altitude of 10 km, after which the SN9 had to perform a belly roll maneuver for controlled descent using aerodynamic rudders. At the end of the flight, the device had to reorient vertically, turn on the engines, and land near the launch pad.

In general, the testing was successful. The prototype has reached the target altitude and successfully completed the planned turn. Testing flaps on Starship, which controls its movement by adjusting its position using onboard engines, was also successful.

Only the last stage was a problem. An attempt to transfer Starship SN9 to a vertical position for landing failed, and he did not have time to take a completely vertical position in relation to the earth’s surface. In addition, the landing speed was clearly too high, so the prototype eventually fell to the ground and exploded.

“ We had another great flight again … we just need to do a little work on this landing, ” SpaceX Chief Integration Engineer John Insprucker noted during the flight’s online broadcast.