Current Events > SpaceX rocket blows up

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/29/spacex-prototype-starship-rocket-explodes-after-test-in-texas.html

A fourth prototype of SpaceXs next-generation Starship rocket exploded Friday after a test at the companys development facility in Texas.

The company was conducting a trial of the rockets engine, in a test on the ground known as a static fire. A few minutes after the test, which initially appeared successful, the Starship prototype identified as Serial Number 4 ruptured in a fiery explosion.

This prototype is distinct from the companys Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, which this weekend is set to launch NASA astronauts from Florida. That rocket system has previously launched satellites and cargo to space successfully dozens of times, after years of development and testing.

https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1266451354861686784
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oh snap

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that was

not nominal

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Who fucked up?

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Uhhh doesn't that have people on board? I thought this was the first launch in a decade where humans would go into space off of American soil?

The rocket is a midlife crisis thing, right?
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Bloodporne posted...

Uhhh doesn't that have people on board? I thought this was the first launch in a decade where humans would go into space off of American soil?

this is a different rocket in Texas, not the one they are launching from Cape Canaveral on Saturday

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ThePrinceFish posted...

that was

not nominal

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RIP SpaceX stocks.

Bloodporne posted...

Uhhh doesn't that have people on board? I thought this was the first launch in a decade where humans would go into space off of American soil?

From the article:

This prototype is distinct from the companys Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, which this weekend is set to launch NASA astronauts from Florida.

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Op should be banned for this

This is different thing from the one that is launching tomorrow fyi

this was testing a prototype

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-Kush- posted...

Who fucked up?

Trump.
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Lol

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I like how the guy immediately said rest in peace, that was nice of him (his first thought on air).

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worst timing ever on that one comment
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Oh, I thought there were people on it.

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Are they supposed to do that

Are there people on that

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Well this has probably scared the shit out of the guys that are set to go up tomorrow.

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FlameTurtle posted...

Are they supposed to do that

In America, yes.

MURICAH!

BOOM BABY!

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Rip

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TheGoldenEel posted...

This is different thing from the one that is launching tomorrow fyi

this was testing a prototype

I'd be nervous as fuck going on the one tomorrow after this

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Gamerguymass posted...

Well this has probably scared the shit out of the guys that are set to go up tomorrow.

At least they can say something to their loved ones now just in case.

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littlebro07 posted...

I'd be nervous as fuck going on the one tomorrow after this

Why?

they are developing a new product. Shit like this happens when developing something new

tests like this were more than likely already done on the one that is launching tomorrow

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Not blown up... just a rapid unscheduled disassembly.

Thats why its still a prototype

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Gamerguymass posted...

Well this has probably scared the shit out of the guys that are set to go up tomorrow.

This is Starship, the weird stainless steel rocket that's had a few similarly explosive tests. Tomorrow's rocket is the Falcon, which is a much more conventional rocket that's already had some successful unmanned flights to the ISS carrying supplies.

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what's a static fire test?

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This guys shit blows up a lot

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privatizing space travel seems bad to me so maybe somebody could tell me why a billionaire getting into rocket ships with his own company isnt ominous

NinjaBreakfast posted...

This guys shit blows up a lot

Just wait till X A-XII gets 25 kills

"it's not ready"

EM: "The launch is scheduled for today"

"I know that but it's not ready"

EM: "it better be ready!"

"Unfortunately it will not be"

EM: "launch it or else!!!!"

\_()_/

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bump because we all need a laugh

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berlyman101 posted...

what's a static fire test?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_vehicle_system_tests#Static_fire

Firing up the engine while keeping it attached to the launchpad. Testing the engine without actually letting the rocket go anywhere.
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It always saddens me how ignorant people are on this stuff.

There's no reason the crew should be worried tomorrow because of this. It's an entirely different rocket, with entirely different systems, using entirely different mechanisms. The one they're going up on tomorrow has been thoroughly tested and vetted dozens of times and has had quite a few successful launches already.

It's like saying you should be worried about driving a 2010 Ford F-150 because a 2020 Ford Focus crashed yesterday. The only way they're related is that it's the same company. That's literally it.

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Statical_Pork posted...

privatizing space travel seems bad to me so maybe somebody could tell me why a billionaire getting into rocket ships with his own company isnt ominous

Ominous how?

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xfd Elon

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Why was the flame near it anyway?

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Aristoph posted...

It always saddens me how ignorant people are on this stuff.

There's no reason the crew should be worried tomorrow because of this. It's an entirely different rocket, with entirely different systems, using entirely different mechanisms. The one they're going up on tomorrow has been thoroughly tested and vetted dozens of times and has had quite a few successful launches already.

It's like saying you should be worried about driving a 2010 Ford F-150 because a 2020 Ford Focus crashed yesterday. The only way they're related is that it's the same company. That's literally it.

If there were a recall on a 2020 Ford Focus, there would probably be a lot of recitals recalls on other Ford models as well, many of which have nothing to do with the focus, because they did something like reuse the same faulty seatbelt clasp in all of them.

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I thought tests like this are supposed be write-offs. Like it exploding doesnt matter and was an expected outcome

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Rika_Furude posted...

I thought tests like this are supposed be write-offs. Like it exploding doesnt matter and was an expected outcome

That's millions of dollars of equipment and man hours blown up, of course it matters. Maybe not the bottomline, but definitely to the morale of the team building it.

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Sad_Face posted...

That's millions of dollars of equipment and man hours blown up, of course it matters. Maybe not the bottomline, but definitely to the morale of the team building it.

it may have been unfortunate but the lost equipment would be nothing compared to the actual research and knowledge gained. it was a calculated risk

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Rika_Furude posted...

it may have been unfortunate but the lost equipment would be nothing compared to the actual research and knowledge gained. it was a calculated risk

They'll bounce back, of course. But that doesn't mean they don't want it to succeed. It appears we're talking about two different things. You're essentially saying they can afford to fail since SpaceX is so big where I'm saying the team is definitely going to feel a blow to their morale for having a failed project. It's part of the process, but it doesn't make it any less painful.

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I mean that failure is part of the process

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Mistere Man posted...

Why was the flame near it anyway?

It wasn't. That flare tower was not the ignition source for the leak. The ignition originated just below the rocket itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCUYG5SonCY&t=2m45s

EDIT: Also, for the record, as he goes into later on in the video above it does seem as though the rockets itself and its test went perfectly. It was likely an issue when they went to de-fuel what was left in the tanks after the test was completed. Most likely a procedure mistake (opening a valve too fast/soon or too much pressure in a fuel evacuation line, something like that) and not actually a problem with the rocket itself.

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2020 anything that can go wrong will go long. Its a law

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Aristoph posted...

It wasn't. That flare tower was not the ignition source for the leak. The ignition originated just below the rocket itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCUYG5SonCY&t=2m45s

EDIT: Also, for the record, as he goes into later on in the video above it does seem as though the rockets itself and its test went perfectly. It was likely an issue when they went to de-fuel what was left in the tanks after the test was completed. Most likely a procedure mistake (opening a valve too fast/soon or too much pressure in a fuel evacuation line, something like that) and not actually a problem with the rocket itself.

Interesting and thank you.

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