Can someone explain why they blew up starship? Was this intentional?

[brooklynite]

[edbermac]

1. Probably, looks like it malfunctioned

Elon does not look happy

[Tatertot]

2. Second stage did not separate as planned

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. probably

Looks like they destructed when the 2nd stage separation failed and the rocket was tumbling.

[brooklynite]

4. Why did everyone applaud when it blew up?

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. getting to that point on a 1st test

was seen as a good start.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. And it didn't blow up on the launch pad.

It can be used again.

[edbermac]

8. I think both booster and starship were destroyed.

Gotta check.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. They appear to be destroyed.

The launch pad can be used again. Had it blown up on the launch pad, it would also have to be rebuilt.

[edhopper]

10. Because

if they didn't, Elon would have a mad.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Musk has movement sensors on employee clothing to check if they all applaud?

It would be on-brand for him.

[Effete Snob]

15. Because maybe they thought not having their rocket land on people was good?

The fact that self destruct worked is a good thing, because we generally frown on having rockets land on people downrange.

Fortunately, this one is only going to poison a migratory bird refuge during migration season.

[hatrack]

6. Huh - guess I'll have to call customer service about my Mars reservation . . .

.

[Ninga]

12. All the instruments on the Starship recorded massive amounts of data that engineers will

know in real time. It’s not easy.

[LonePirate]

13. I hate to praise him but his company sent a brand new rocket thousands of feet into the air.

That itself was a huge accomplishment even if the optimal results did not happen.

[Sympthsical]

14. It was supposed to do one orbit

However, there was a problem with separation, and it began falling back to earth.

They got a lot of data out of it. They'll make adjustments and do more tests. Not the biggest deal. On a scale of 1-10, the test launch probably came in at a 6 or 7 for usefulness.