The SpaceX Starship system is a fully-reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX since 2012, as a self-funded private spaceflight project.
A flight of SN8 to an altitude of 12.5 km took place on 9 December 2020. After successful ascent, various test maneuvers—followed by a successful and novel skydiver-like horizontal descent and vehicle rotation back to vertical for a propulsive landing attempt—lower than expected pressure in the methane header tank following the rapid rotation resulted in inadequate final deceleration and a hard landing, resulting in an explosion on the landing pad and total destruction of the test vehicle.
This design pays tribute to the major stepping stone in development of the Mars launch system.
