SpaceX Starship SN10 launch - as it happened: Mars-bound prototype finally lands but explodes shortly after

Roughly eight minutes after landing, SN10 exploded while sitting at a lean on the landing pad

Spacex starship finally lands without exploding, only to explode moments later

SpaceX has successfully performed a flight test of its Mars-bound Starship spacecraft on Wednesday after several delays.

Starship SN10 lifted off to 10km before landing successfully at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas, achieving what its predecessors could not.

Roughly eight minutes after landing, SN10 exploded while sitting at a lean on the landing pad.

Despite the explosion, the high-altitude flight test marked significant progress towards Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions.

SpaceX provided a live stream of the launch and landing, but did ended it before the explosion took place.

You can read all the updates as they happened here.

[3 March 2021 17:28 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Starship fuelling imminent

It looks like Starship has finished pre-flight checks and is entering the fuelling stage imminently.

As the lift-off ticks down, Starship SN10 will be hoping to avoid the mistakes of its predecessors.

This incredible composite image by photographer Richard Angle (@RDAnglePhoto on Twitter) shows how close SN8 came to achieving a landing. After completing the complex landing-flip manoeuvre, it managed to right itself but came in too heavy.

(Richard Angle)

[3 March 2021 17:50 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Venting!

We have venting! That’s the condenser spewing vapour from the bottom of the craft, which generally starts just over 30 minutes before lift off.

[3 March 2021 17:59 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Starship countdown timeline

The next steps on the Starship countdown timeline after the condenser are the skirt vent, followed by the upper tank vent, then the tri-vent.

Then lift-off.

[3 March 2021 18:15 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Starahip countdown on hold?

There has been no more venting from Starship since the condenser, suggesting the countdown may be on hold. We’ll keep you posted when we have an update.

[3 March 2021 18:19 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Still plenty of time left

There is more than five hours left in this launch window, so still plenty of time left for SpaceX to pull this off today.

[3 March 2021 18:30 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

'60 per cent’

SpaceX boss Elon Musk has been unusually quiet on Twitter since announcing today’s launch, likely because he is very busy with preparations.

He has previously given SN10 a 60 per cent chance of succeeding.

[3 March 2021 18:32 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Vehicle in the launch area?

There appears to be a vehicle in the launch area, which could push back today’s schedule by up to an hour and a half.

[3 March 2021 18:49 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Weather improving

In brighter news, the overcast skies that have been shrouding Boca Chica all morning appear to be clearing. That will give us a much better view of Starship on its 10km-altitude flight - if it goes ahead.

[3 March 2021 18:52 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

‘Ground vent valve stuck open'

The reason for the delay was an issue with the ground vent valve, according to CNBC’s space reporter Michael Sheetz.

Apparently the vent was stuck open when Starship SN10 was about to start loading with propellent.

The good news is that it is not a major issue and SpaceX is reportedly still looking to launch today.

[3 March 2021 19:10 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Launchpad clearing

Cars are leaving the launch area, which means the valve issue has likely been fixed and we are back on track for a launch today.

The condenser also appears to be venting, meaning we could be less than 45 minutes away from Starship SN10 taking flight.