SpaceX reveals close-up of Starship ‘landing flip manoeuvre’ before explosion

SpaceX has shared close-up footage of its Starship spacecraft performing a complicated landing manoeuvre, just moments before it crash landed in a ball of flames.

The landing flip manoeuvre took place at the end of the first major flight test of the Starship SN8 prototype, which took place on Wednesday at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas.

The test lasted for around 6 minutes and 40 seconds, allowing SpaceX to assess how Starship’s three Raptor engines would function simultaneously, as well as try manoeuvring the craft using its body flaps on descent.

One of the most complicated parts of the flight test was the landing flip, which marked the first time a craft of its size had ever performed one.