Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship rocket explodes during disastrous test

SPACEX HAS HAD THE MOST FAILURES AND ROCKET EXPLOSIONS OF ANY CONTRACTOR FOR NASA

SpaceX's failed test saw the top of the rocket blown off, sending plumes of gas into the air.

ELON MUSK’S SPACEX STARSHIP ROCKET RUPTURES DURING DISASTROUS TEST

It was tipped to begin test flights by the end of 2019, but SpaceX ’s Starship rocket has suffered a huge setback following a disastrous test.

The monster spacecraft partially exploded during a ground test in Boca Chica, Texas - and the whole thing was caught on camera by local space enthusiasts.

The failed test saw the top of the rocket blown off, sending plumes of gas into the air.

Speaking to The Verge , a spokesperson for SpaceX said: “The purpose of today’s test was to pressurize systems to the max, so the outcome was not completely unexpected.

Starship is SpaceX’s enormous spacecraft that’s designed to carry cargo and people into deep space in the future.

Back in September, Elon Musk , CEO of SpaceX claimed that test flights in low altitude could begin within the next couple of months, while Starship could reach orbit within six months.

However, the failed test casts doubt on these ambitious timelines.

While Musk hasn’t specifically commented on the failed test, in a reply to tweet about it, he confirmed that SpaceX is now focusing its efforts on a new prototype for the Starship, called MK-3.

He said: “[Mk-1] had some value as a manufacturing pathfinder, but flight design is quite different.”

Once deployed, Starship will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle, according to SpaceX.