Elon Musk’s SpaceX finally completed a successful launch of its Mars prototype rocket, SN15. After launching at 5:23 pm in Boca Chica, Texas, Starship took a joy ride six miles above Earth and then returned and landed upright on its landing pad.
This success comes on the heels of four previous missions that ended in fiery explosions during takeoff or shortly after landing. Though a small fire burned shortly after landing, it didn’t escalate to an explosion like it’s recent predecessor.
Musk emphatically tweeted after landing, “Starship landing nominal”… whatever that means.
The SN15 is an early prototype that is eventually intended to carry passengers and cargo to Mars, between planets, and the Moon. Unlike traditional rockets, which barrel down towards earth unencumbered, SpaceX envisions a reusable passenger vehicle.
In order to accomplish this, Musk explained at an event in September 2019, the rocket will resume a formation similar to a skydiver. The rocket’s belly will be angled towards the Earth and its fins will balance out its momentum so that it remains stable and creates drag.
Though today marks the first successful flight, the three-engine Starship will continue to iterate and is eventually expected to pack more than 30 engines.
