Starship SN9's 10km flight
These photos of Starship SN9’s flight were taken from Isla Blanca Park, on South Padre Island, TX.
Unlike SN8’s flight, I only made a single trip to South Padre Island, and I didn’t stay for sunset (so I missed out on what turned out to be a gorgeous sunset.)
I shot SN8 photos from near the auditorium, but for SN9 I decided to shoot from the jetty.
![](liftoff/liftoff-listing.jpg)
Taken moments after liftoff. SN9 is on the right, and slightly higher than SN10 at this point.
![](ascent/ascent-listing.jpg)
SN9 has cleared the tower (aka SN10.)
![](ascent-wide/ascent-wide-listing.jpg)
SN9 is visible in the center of frame.
![](ascent-bird/ascent-bird-listing.jpg)
Flying creatures unite!
![](apogee-vent/apogee-vent-listing.jpg)
SN9 vents liquid oxygen at apogee.
![](skydive/skydive-listing.jpg)
Taken moments before engine ignition and (failed) flip maneuver.
![](flip-midway/flip-midway-listing.jpg)
Two engines should be running, and SN9 shouldn’t be quite this close to the ground.
![](impact/impact-listing.jpg)
With only a single engine running, SN9 had too much momentum to correct with a single engine, and tipped too far the other way. At the moment of impact, SN9 was rolling and yawing far beyond the control authority of the single running engine.
![](fireball-1/fireball-1-listing.jpg)
![](fireball-2/fireball-2-listing.jpg)
![](aftermath/aftermath-listing.jpg)
The remains of SN9 continue to smoke.