Today SpaceX launched their Starship for its first high-altitude test.
You can see from the video below, that only a few Raptor engines were installed. A full launch will have at least 36 Raptor engines.
Maybe the lack of engines is the reason for the explosive landing! What is remarkable is that it launched, performed maneuvers, and came in for a controlled, hard landing.
In my upcoming novel TAC FORCE – Sons of Khan, Star Cruisers landing on and taking off from the moon are common, everyday occurrences.
We aren’t at that point yet, but the progress we are seeing from SpaceX and their Starship demonstrate that our imagined future is on the way!