SpaceX's Boston Dynamics robodog Zeus lent a helping hand to workers cleaning up and retrieving rocket parts after Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) exploded.
On Thursday, the four-legged yellow robot pranced around SpaceX's research center in Boca Chica, Texas. It inspected the aftermath of the rocket's crash.
Images of the debris have since appeared on Twitter, revealing the SN10's shattered body and broken Raptor engines, each worth $1 million. Trevor Mahlmann, an Ars Technica photographer, also saw the robodog on the scene, surveying the blast site.
Although SpaceX has not revealed what caused SN10 to burst into flames, some believe that it was due to the landing legs failing to deploy. SN10 took off at 6:15 p.m. ET and was on its side and burning on the launch pad 15 minutes later.
How Much Did SpaceX Pay For Zeus The Robot Dog?
According to SpaceExplored, SpaceX paid $75,000 for Zeus the robot dog to search test facilities or other places that aren't suitable for humans. Zeus has its own doghouse near the Boca Chica, Texas launch pad, where it can safely search for gas leaks or other threats, including those connected to SpaceX's slew of exploded Starship prototypes.
Zeus was seen bounding around the SpaceX landing pad last week, although it's unclear what it was up to. But it's likely to be busier this time since it sniffs the area surrounding the blast to help SpaceX figure out what went wrong and how to put the pieces back together.
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Rest in Peace, SN10?
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, congratulated the rocket as it landed "in one piece." He later returned to Twitter to say, "RIP SN10, honorable discharge."
The prototype's mission was to collect data on handling the rocket during re-entry. It was also the only one out of three to land successfully, prompting many to hail the launch as a victory rather than another Starship disaster.
Just one wing flap remains attached to the 165-foot tall missile, lying on the ground with its nose cone shredded to bits.
Sources told DailyMail the force of the explosion was strong enough to propel the large rocket's body into the air, causing it to flip and land on its side.
After the fire and smoke from the huge explosion had dispersed, an object that seemed to be a methane tank was seen lying on the Boca Chica landing field.
Despite the fact that SN10 is already lying in a heap on the launch pad, SpaceX is already planning to move the next version, SN11, to the launchpad for a high-altitude evaluation.
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