SpaceX Starship rocket explodes attempting to land
A SpaceX prototype rocket successfully launched this morning but exploded in a huge fireball while attempting to land.
The next-generation Starship rocket aimed to fly to a height of 10-kilometres, an altitude of around 32,800 feet, above Texas.
SN9 took off and flew without incident, but blew up while landing, just like the SN8 prototype rocket did last December.
Starship prototype Serial Number 9 attempts to land in Texas. 9News
The rocket explodes on landing, similar to a prototype which blew up in December. 9News
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"We had, again, another great flight up ... we've just got to work on that landing a little bit," SpaceX principal integration engineer John Insprucker said on the company's webcast of the flight.
CEO Elon Musk is believed to have made the Starship program his company's top priority.
Last year SpaceX launched it first successful astronaut mission.
Mr Musk's goal is for Starship to become a completely reusable carrier, like a commercial airliner.
SpaceX builds its starship rockets in Boca Chica, Texas.
SN9 aimed to fly as high as 10 kilometres, or about 32,800 feet altitude. 9News
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