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| Science & Technology |
| SpaceX's Massive Rocket Explodes Due to Rapid Unscheduled Digging - Scott Manley |
| 2023-04-21 |
| SpaceX performed the debut launch of their next Generation Starship-Superheavy launch vehicle, and it didn't make it to orbit. But it was still very much a case of Excitement delivered as the vehicle destroyed its launchpad, had engines fail and parts explode as it ascended, before finally spinning end over end until it was destroyed in a giant cloud of cryogenic propellents. |
| Posted by:DarthVader |
| #5 Looks like they learned a lot more than they planned on learning. Heh, indeed! Watching the live feed after the fact, they stated the test goal was to make it past the end of the tower. Anything more was gravy, which explains why the team all seemed so giddy over the results. ^ Interesting commentary, Bobby. I was wondering about the brown clouds at launch. Not the expected white steam from cooling water. One more thing for the To Do list. Having the launch pad destroyed is inconvenient but the sooner you find out about such things the better. Fail early, fail often. Otherwise, you risk beavering away for a couple years trying to make everything perfect, only to scrub the launch due to a plumbing leak. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2023-04-21 21:03 |
| #4 Looks like they learned a lot more than they planned on learning. Which is a very successful test. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2023-04-21 18:47 |
| #3 A Space Shuttle launch pad was under construction at Vandenberg until the Challenger. It had flame diverters and 50 feet of concrete under the exhaust areas. Also a 250,000 gallon water tank high above the launch pad for 'sound suppression' - but also, I suppose, concrete cooling. Also an ice suppression system (for the California fogs) powered by two surplus B-36 jet engines. I played a trivial part in those designs 40 years ago. Space X seems to be lacking all these old-tyme features. High water table and Corps of Engineers issues are a problem, it seems. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2023-04-21 17:21 |
| #2 Human Mars colonies weren't built in a day. Thanks to Elon Musk at least some of us may be able to leave planet Earth for good one day. |
| Posted by: jpal 2023-04-21 17:03 |
| #1 For my fellow rocket nerds |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2023-04-21 15:44 |