SpaceXStarship PrototypeSuborbital Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA
12.5 km Flight
Launched
December 9, 2020
Image: SpaceX
Summary
12.5 km Flight launched on a SpaceX Starship Prototype from Suborbital Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA on December 9, 2020. The mission was a partial failure: Test completed set out objectives, but the vehicle failed to land successfully due to low pressure in the propellant header tanks cutting out the engines. It was SpaceX's 115th launch and 27th this year. It was the 5th Starship Prototype flight and the 3rd this year. Booster SN8 flew for the 1st time and its landing at SpaceX Starship Landing Pad failed. The payload was bound for Suborbital (Sub).
- Result
- Test completed set out objectives, but the vehicle failed to land successfully due to low pressure in the propellant header tanks cutting out the engines.
- Watch
- Starship SN8 12.5km FlightThe Space Devs
- Starship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight TestSpaceX
- Vehicle
- Starship Prototype · SpaceXSpaceX Starship
- Booster
- SN8 · flight 1 · Return to Launch Site at SpaceX Starship Landing Pad · landing failed5/9 landed here
- Mission
- Test Flight · Suborbital (Sub)
- Milestone
- 5th Starship Prototype flight · 3rd this yearSpaceX's 115th launch27th this year
Webcast
Flight preview
About this launch
The SN8 Starship prototype was destroyed when attempting to land after a first flight to an altitude of 12.5 km or 41,000 ft.
Pad
Suborbital Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA
5th launch from Suborbital Pad A, 3rd this year · 5th from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA
7 launches from this pad · 23 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA
97 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Show 9 earlier updates
new T-0 22:40 UTC
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
NET 22:40 utc
scottm3 · 12/9/2020
updated T-0
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
Changed T-0 to 21:10 UTC, will be updated again once SpaceX stream is live
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
Set to GO, but T-0 kept to 21:30 UTC based on the NASA airborne surveillance plane flight plan.
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
Pushed T-0 to 21:30 UTC to match the new flight plan of NASA's airborne surveillance plane.
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
Pushed T-0 to 20:00 UTC to roughly match the flight plan of NASA's airborne surveillance plane.
Nosu · 12/9/2020 · source
Standing down for today. Moved to tomorrow's window.
Nosu · 12/8/2020 · source
adjusted T-0 to 22:30 UTC
Nosu · 12/8/2020 · source
Questions
When did 12.5 km Flight launch?
12.5 km Flight launched on December 9, 2020. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why was 12.5 km Flight a partial failure?
Test completed set out objectives, but the vehicle failed to land successfully due to low pressure in the propellant header tanks cutting out the engines.
Where can I watch 12.5 km Flight?
Coverage: Starship SN8 12.5km Flight; Starship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight Test. Watch the replay
What rocket launched 12.5 km Flight?
Starship Prototype, flown by SpaceX. Starship Prototype spec sheet
Where did 12.5 km Flight launch from?
Suborbital Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA.
Did the booster land?
Booster SN8 flew for the 1st time and its landing at SpaceX Starship Landing Pad failed.
What orbit was 12.5 km Flight going to?
Suborbital (Sub), a test flight mission.
Which program is 12.5 km Flight part of?
SpaceX Starship. About SpaceX Starship