SpaceX Starship Lands Upright After Landing, Then Explodes in Latest Test

In this image from video made available by SpaceX, one of the company's Starship prototypes fires its thrusters as it lands during a test in Boca Chica, Texas, on Mar. 3, 2021. SpaceX via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—SpaceX’s futuristic Starship looked like it aced a touchdown Wednesday, but then exploded on the landing pad with so much force that it was hurled into the air.

The failure occurred just minutes after SpaceX declared success. Two previous test flights crash-landed in fireballs.