SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
Under 2 hours to launch, SpaceX report clear for propellant load which will start in next 15 minutes.
Hopefully the stuck valve problem will not recur.
Hopefully the stuck valve problem will not recur.
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,259
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From: Central UK
Six engines out by MaxQ by the looks of it, a brave effort but what a mountain they've set themselves to climb.
The sheer scale of this project is awe-inspiring.
Vast improvement urgently required in the trite, trivial and banal commentary and that woman's dreadful unnecessary squawk-laugh.
The sheer scale of this project is awe-inspiring.
Vast improvement urgently required in the trite, trivial and banal commentary and that woman's dreadful unnecessary squawk-laugh.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
That is definitely one thing. I would guess that keeping all the engines running is the first thing - seems like that led to low altitude and control problems.
I thought I saw the bolts trying to fire in the video. Clearly they didn't work!
I thought I saw the bolts trying to fire in the video. Clearly they didn't work!
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
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From: The Winchester
real shame about the actual outcome, fingers crossed for next time..as for:
I know what you mean...I turned off one feed because of the racket, went to the SpaceX feed and had to turn the sound off...
Bah Humbug - bring back commentary in the style of Jack King (that ages me) and the other old school NASA PAOs.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...llo-dies-at-84
Vast improvement urgently required in the trite, trivial and banal commentary and that woman's dreadful unnecessary squawk-laugh.
Bah Humbug - bring back commentary in the style of Jack King (that ages me) and the other old school NASA PAOs.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...llo-dies-at-84
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 1,165
From: Central UK
On further viewing in slo-mo it seems that afer MaxQ there were a series of failures in the engine bay resulting in at least one thrust-plume or combustion jet ejecting way off the axis. I'd guess they had a series of big engine failures each triggering the next with debris/shockwave until enough damage was done to compromise the control system.
They'll learn. But I reckon it'll be a while before the next attenpt as those engines are clearly not up to scratch.
Early days yet. They'll get there, of that I have little doubt.
It seems Twatter has a useful purpose after all!
They'll learn. But I reckon it'll be a while before the next attenpt as those engines are clearly not up to scratch.
Early days yet. They'll get there, of that I have little doubt.
It seems Twatter has a useful purpose after all!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
Really interested to see the ground under the stand. They’ve done an awful lot of work but don’t think the water deluge was working for this launch and spalling may have led to the loss of some of the engines.
The good news is the site is intact and they have several more Starships and boosters - with numerous incremental improvements - ready to roll-out to the launch pad.
No prolonged stand down periods for SpaceX programmes.
The good news is the site is intact and they have several more Starships and boosters - with numerous incremental improvements - ready to roll-out to the launch pad.
No prolonged stand down periods for SpaceX programmes.
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 1,165
From: Central UK
I find it quite incredible that anyone can be so - er - imaginative as to thinking they could see explosive bolts fire (items maybe 20=30cm long?) in a video where a thing the size of a skyscraper is only wobbly-viewed in fuzzy full-frame from end-on...
As to how one can assume failure of a 'water deluge"... Do they have one? Where are the water towers? Not visble anyway. Isn't that why the stack is fired off a raised platform? And by what physics could debris possibly manage to return into an engine against that phasmagorical maelstrom of thrust? It's not as if it's an atmospheric engine breathing ambient air full of debris is it? Any debris from spalling concrete (which one would imagine the dimmest of SpaceX engineers would have thought of...) would simply be blown into the next county.
Sorry, just no.
As to how one can assume failure of a 'water deluge"... Do they have one? Where are the water towers? Not visble anyway. Isn't that why the stack is fired off a raised platform? And by what physics could debris possibly manage to return into an engine against that phasmagorical maelstrom of thrust? It's not as if it's an atmospheric engine breathing ambient air full of debris is it? Any debris from spalling concrete (which one would imagine the dimmest of SpaceX engineers would have thought of...) would simply be blown into the next county.
Sorry, just no.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
I find it quite incredible that anyone can be so - er - imaginative as to thinking they could see explosive bolts fire (items maybe 20=30cm long?) in a video where a thing the size of a skyscraper is only wobbly-viewed in fuzzy full-frame from end-on...
Sorry, just no.
Sorry, just no.
It was cool though!
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: USA
It's possible a photographer left the car there. There is a tripod with cameras that got blown over, so perhaps the car was being used as a camera platform. It's typical rocket launch operations allow photographers to place cameras at the launch site several days ahead of the launch and being in a car would protect from rain and critters. Just not so good against fist-sized chunks of concrete. Live and learn.
In Florida they don't even allow remote control of them - devices might sit for a week with the rocket on the launch pad and have to wake up and take the photos based on what they can detect at the time. SpaceX might have similar protocols.
Alternatively this is the last time that car owner fails to tip the valet.
In Florida they don't even allow remote control of them - devices might sit for a week with the rocket on the launch pad and have to wake up and take the photos based on what they can detect at the time. SpaceX might have similar protocols.
Alternatively this is the last time that car owner fails to tip the valet.
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: USA
It appears very much like an inability to orient the rocket as desired to get to stage separation - it seemed like the control system was hunting for the correct pitch, heading, and velocity and didn't get there. Perhaps this is either an Ariane V88-like software failure, possibly a sensor issue (which one was it that the IMU acceleration sensor was installed 180 degrees out?), or whatever engines were critical to stopping the reorientation weren't operating.
It's always a slight chance that crap got kicked up during the initial lighting to damage wiring or fuel/oxygen lines or nick some other critical piece. Sure, once all are lit and fully running not much will come back, but that startup is still violent.
I am very impressed that the structure held together through that maneuver. Most vehicles can't stand more than a couple of degrees off-axis before the column collapses.
I'm waiting for Scott Manley for details.
It's always a slight chance that crap got kicked up during the initial lighting to damage wiring or fuel/oxygen lines or nick some other critical piece. Sure, once all are lit and fully running not much will come back, but that startup is still violent.
I am very impressed that the structure held together through that maneuver. Most vehicles can't stand more than a couple of degrees off-axis before the column collapses.
I'm waiting for Scott Manley for details.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
As to how one can assume failure of a 'water deluge"... Do they have one? Where are the water towers? Not visble anyway. Isn't that why the stack is fired off a raised platform? And by what physics could debris possibly manage to return into an engine against that phasmagorical maelstrom of thrust? It's not as if it's an atmospheric engine breathing ambient air full of debris is it? Any debris from spalling concrete (which one would imagine the dimmest of SpaceX engineers would have thought of...) would simply be blown into the next county.
Sorry, just no.
Sorry, just no.
https://twitter.com/paddypatrone/sta...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A