SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#1

Post by beervirus » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:35 PM UTC

SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing
twitter.com

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#2

Post by d_silin » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:45 PM UTC

Illustration how "move fast and break things" in aerospace domain works.

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#3

Post by tectonic » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:46 PM UTC

This is why we test. (In this case, header tank helium pressurization and more thermal tiles.)

At least they didn't hit SN10!

Summary tomorrow in this week's Orbital Index (https://orbitalindex.com).

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#4

Post by trasz » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:51 PM UTC

I wonder what's that tiny thing that seems to have broken off some two seconds before it hit the ground?

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#5

Post by Diederich » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:52 PM UTC

Failure with one of the engines on re-light: https://twitter.com/MurkyWanders/status/1356703469986586626

"I bet they needed that."

As others have noted, SN10 is standing by. Somewhat uncomfortably close by: https://i.imgur.com/F9rsBbD.png

It's so exciting to be a spectator of these events.

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#6

Post by mempko » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:54 PM UTC

When you look at the history of the space race between Soviets vs USA, one thing that is clear is the approach used by both countries to engineer their craft were very different. The Soviets would do design by testing and blow up many rockets and gather data vs the USA which would be more up-front about it's design and design testing before gong live.

SpaceX clearly took the Soviet's approach to rocket design.

EDIT: This is not a negative thing. Soyuz is pretty darn safe because of the approach they took.

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#7

Post by Diederich » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:55 PM UTC

And that's why you have an assembly line for Starships: https://i.redd.it/dmr9bjhpcee61.jpg (SN9 lacking the RUD symbol in that image of course.)

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#8

Post by batterylow » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 8:58 PM UTC

Explosion happens just after 12:45... I'm sure they've collected useful data.

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#9

Post by bdamm » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 9:03 PM UTC

trasz wrote: post #4

I wonder what's that tiny thing that seems to have broken off some two seconds before it hit the ground?

Indeed, there were two. Two objects broke off from the ship before impact, one just before the first swing of the pendulum and one just after.

Re: SpaceX SN9 Explodes on Landing

#10

Post by the-dude » Tue, Feb 02, 2021, 9:08 PM UTC

mempko wrote: post #6

When you look at the history of the space race between Soviets vs USA, one thing that is clear is the approach used by both countries to engineer their craft were very different. The Soviets would do design by testing and blow up many rockets and gather data vs the USA which would be more up-front about it's design and design testing before gong live. SpaceX clearly took the Soviet's approach to rocket design. EDIT:…

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