SpaceX Starship prototype explodes

Saturday, 30 May 2020

SpaceX’s SN4 Starship prototype was destroyed in a powerful explosion minutes after an engine test shortly before 2pm (7am New Zealand time).

The incident at the company’s Boca Chica site occurred after a series of successful “static fire” engine tests on the prototype over the last several days.

SN4 was being prepared for a test flight to take place possibly within weeks, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

**READ MORE:

* 'Bummed out': Historic space flight postponed

* NASA and SpaceX cancel rocket launch

* Elon Musk's Mars 'Starship' could fly to orbit in six months

* Elon Musk unveils his plan for 'Starship', his rocket designed to take humans to Mars

**

The explosion happened one day after the company was granted a two-year launch licence for Boca Chica site by the Federal Aviation Administration, and as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket is about to carry two American astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station this weekend, pending favourable weather.

The cause of the Boca Chica explosion is not known at this time.