Elon Musk and the SpaceX team inspects the remains of Starship SN8

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and his team visited the Starship SN8 landing pad location in Boca Chica, Texas on Friday. The team inspected the remnants of the destroyed test prototype which exploded on landing last Thursday.

After a successful test launch and flight, the Starship SN8 prototype just missed the mark on landing, even the belly flop was perfect. Maybe the distance and the timing of firing the Raptor engine thrusters was a bit wrong this time. However, there is a lot to learn from this experience and the data will come in handy for sure in the next test launches and ensure better landings.

Let’s re-watch this historic moment in a shortened video by NasaSpaceFlight.com.

Musk / SpaceX super fanboy and launch observer, Everyday Astronaut also put together a beautifully edited video of the SN8 launch and landing sequence in a short video, showing both events side-by-side.

Sound on and go full screen!!! #Starship #SN8 lift off and landing in one video!!! Beautiful shot showing the belly flop, engine re-ignition, the flip, the tail down portion and the boomy bit!!! STILL WORKING on prepping everything we shot alongside @considercosmos!!! pic.twitter.com/0kZz1t9SVZ
— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) December 13, 2020

In response to a request for saving the Starship SN8 nose cone as a monument, Elon Musk agreed to preserve it in the memory of the great SN8. Also since Musk has permanently relocated to Texas, he will most probably be present at all the Starship prototype launches coming in the near future.

Agreed, should be preserved in memory of SN8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2020

More pics of the exploded Starship SN8 prototype were posted by the SpaceX board member Steve Jurvetson. The pics show what such an impact can do to 30X cold-rolled stainless steel, feels like paper from a distance — but it is the best as Elon Musk chose it for Starship last year.

The sun splashed side of SN8, straining toward the stars.

Up close, parts of it resemble the architecture of Frank Gehry. pic.twitter.com/c6qbMb0n9x
— Steve Jurvetson (@FutureJurvetson) December 11, 2020

Starship SN8 debris after the crash landing.

Steve, posted the following super-closeup picture of the Starship SN8 just before the launch. This shows the monstrosity of this prototype spaceship, a step closer towards Starship that will aim for Mars.

In a recent interview at the Axel Springer Award, Elon Musk said that the first mission to Mars is expected to be launched in 4-6 years.

Starship SN8 prototype photo taken from the bottom, showing the giant left Aft Fin. Source: Steve Jurvetson / Flickr (cc by SA 2.0).

SpaceX Emergency Operations Tesla Model 3 is also seen in one of the SpaceX team visit pictures at the SN8 landing pad. This is probably the vehicle that Musk used to reach the landing pad to inspect the aftermath of the SN8 explosion site.

By Iqtidar Ali