Great balls of fire: SpaceX's Starship test flight ends with a bang - again

SpaceX's Starship prototype explodes after crashing while attempting to land in Boca Chica, Texas today. Photo / AP

SpaceX's second full test flight of its futuristic, bullet-shaped Starship ended in another fiery crash landing today.

Elon Musk's company launched its latest Starship prototype from the southeastern tip of Texas, two months after the previous test ended in an equally explosive belly flop.

The full-scale stainless steel rocket reached its intended altitude of 10 kilometres, slightly lower than the last one.

SpaceX's bullet-shaped Starship lifts off. Photo / AP

Everything seemed to be going well as the 50-metre Starship flipped on its side and began its descent. But it did not manage to straighten itself back up in time for a landing and slammed into the ground.

"We've just got to work on that landing a little bit," said SpaceX launch commentator John Insprucker. "Reminder — this is a test flight."

Spectators at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, Texas, watch Starship's test flight. Photo / AP

The next Starship stood nearby at the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, during today's test, which lasted 6.5 minutes.

Musk is developing Starship to carry people to Mars, perhaps in as little as several years. It's the upper stage of his intended moon- and Mars-ships, meant to launch atop a mega rocket called Super Heavy that is still being developed.

Live feed of Starship SN9 flight test → https://t.co/Hs5C53qBxb https://t.co/ioM0D5J91I

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 2, 2021

SpaceX tried to launch Starship last week, but failed to get the necessary approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, prompting a Twitter outburst from Musk.

SpaceX did not comply with safety regulations for the December 9 flight, an FAA spokesperson said, and needed to take corrective action before proceeding with launch operations. Today's flight met all safety criteria.