https://twitter.com/AdamSafiKhan/status/1337002126858448897
The “SpaceX rocket explodes” headline which I even saw in a manufacturing journal website seem to be a case of “if it bleeds it leads” syndrome.IMHO The flight wouldn’t have gotten the press it did if it landed intact.[/quoteI'll second that!!A lot of teachable moments about accuracy (truth) in the media here, but I know this is not the place for that On a much more positive note, I remember many years ago seeing an interview with Joel Hodgson (the creator of MST3K) in which he said "those who are meant to get it, get it". Unending gratitude to all those who provide the the platform (NSF), along with those who provide the subject matter (Spacex), so that those who "get it" can have a place to share the passion!
SpaceX on Wednesday, 9 December 2020 completed an altitude test for the Starship rocket SN8 prototype. While the test itself was a success, the rocket exploded once it was on the ground again.A SUCCESSFUL STARSHIP MISSIONNevertheless, SpaceX is touting the mission as a success. The rocket completed the ascent, freefall, and the bellyflop manoeuvre. Despite the explosion, SpaceX collected data to improve its next prototype, SN9.
SN15's landing made it onto the front page of most of the major news sites from what I can see...CountryOutletLocationHeadline=========================================UKBBCFront Page"SpaceX Starship prototype makes clean landing"USCNNFront Page"Success! SpaceX lands Mars rocket prototype for the first time"USReutersFront Page"SpaceX Starship rocket prototype achieves first safe landing"USNBCFront Page"SpaceX launches and lands Starship in first successful flight"USWSJFront Page"SpaceX Starship Lands on Fifth Attempt"UKMail OnlineMain Page"Nailed it! SpaceX's Starship SN15 blasts six miles into the sky before returning safely to the pad - a month after their last rocket exploded after landing"
BBC headline was the clean landing:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-57007136But there was a long 'but' section showing previous failures.I don't think the radical nature of this test programme has got through to them yet