SpaceX Starship Explodes Moments After Landing

The latest flight test for the SpaceX Starship SN10 seemed like a successful one – right up until it exploded.

The spacecraft took off from Texas and flew about 6 miles before making what appeared to be a perfect upright touchdown on the landing pad. Unfortunately, a few minutes later the SN10 suffered what engineers call an RUD, or Rapid Unplanned Disassembly – in other words, it exploded in a fireball right there on the landing pad.

It’s some kind of progress, at least – the first two SN10 test flights both crashed while attempting to land.

At this rate, how long will it take to make a successful Starship?  Do you think trips to space will ever be as common as flying in an airplane?