Ahead of the launch, the company said the Starship would be powered by three of its Raptor engines before they shut off sequentially at a height of 10km.
The Starship was then due to land back down “under active aerodynamic control” before the engines powered back on to flip it into a vertical position for touchdown.
While the spacecraft appeared to reach altitude without a hitch, something seems to have gone wrong when it attempted to flip back into the upright position, with the vehicle ultimately smashing down onto the landing pad at a tilt.
According to the aerospace firm, the maneuver is a critical element for landing the craft “at destinations across the solar system where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist” before later returning back to Earth.
“This capability will enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond,” SpaceX said in a statement ahead of Tuesday’s test.
In December, the Starship SN8 exploded on landing after its test flight.
The company is developing the Starship as a vehicle for carrying both humans and cargo on future missions to the Moon, Mars and potentially further afield.