A SpaceX prototype is seen on Nov. 30, 2020, ready to launch from the companys private facility near Boca Chica Beach, Texas. (Border Report File Photo\/Sandra Sanchez)<\/p>\n
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) SpaceXs second full test flight of its futuristic, bullet-shaped Starship ended in another fiery crash landing Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Elon Musks company launched its latest Starship prototype from the southeastern tip of Texas, two months after the previous test ended in an equally explosive belly flop.<\/p>\n
The full-scale stainless steel rocket reached its intended altitude of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), slightly lower than the last one. Everything seemed to be going well as the 160-foot (50-meter) Starship flipped on its side and began its descent. But it did not manage to straighten itself back up in time for a landing and slammed into the ground.<\/p>\n
Weve just got to work on that landing a little bit, said SpaceX launch commentator John Insprucker. Reminder this is a test flight.<\/p>\n
The next Starship stood nearby at the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, during Tuesdays test, which lasted 6 1\/2 minutes.<\/p>\n
Musk is developing Starship to carry people to Mars, perhaps in as little as several years. Its the upper stage of his intended moon- and Mars-ships, meant to launch atop a mega rocket called Super Heavy that is still being developed.<\/p>\n
SpaceX tried to launch Starship last week, but failed to get the necessary approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, prompting a Twitter outburst from Musk.<\/p>\n
SpaceX did not comply with safety regulations for the Dec. 9 flight, an FAA spokesperson said Tuesday, and needed to take corrective action before proceeding with launch operations. Tuesdays flight met all safety criteria, according to the FAA.<\/p>\n
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SpaceXs 2nd Starship test flight ends with another kaboom - NEWS10 ABC<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A SpaceX prototype is seen on Nov. 30, 2020, ready to launch from the companys private facility near Boca Chica Beach, Texas Continue reading