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SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

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Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#161

Success was defined as the rocket leaving the launchpad. Suggesting that this test “failed” is at best a mischaracterisation.

Even if this is true, it's going to get more and more difficult to explain away rocket explosions as succeeding the more decades we put between us and the dawn of the Space Age. If SpaceX is still blowing up rockets in 2033, it's going to become a PR problem, especially as the MSM further turns its back on Musk.

Couldn't disagree more. The biggest innovation that SpaceX has brought to the table is the reusable nature of their platform, both reducing operation cost AND in reducing R&D costs. I believe one of the biggest contributors to the lack of space exploration and exploitation was the astronomical (pun totally intended) cost of both developing and operating the platforms to get us there. If this helps fix that, blow some stuff up!

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't make any sense for prototypes. It's been slightly fewer decades since we've been doing consumer software. Does anybody expect version 1 to be bug free?

You're thinking about this like an engineer rather than a PR consultant or a journalist looking to write a hit piece on Musk. Even now, it's not hard to ask the somewhat specious question of how we can be 70+ years into aerospace tech and we still need our rockets to blow up.

As though hack journalists need actual reasons to write hit pieces about Musk. They’ll write them no matter what. The articles will generate plenty of clicks, they will have zero impact on anything that matters and they will change nobody’s mind about anything.

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#165
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Going to guess you don't actually know what the details are in the comparison betwen the N1 and Starship, because this is a incredibly uniformed comment without any arguments/evidence.

N1: 30 engines working next to each other instead of big engines. Starship: 33 engines working next to each other. There might be some details, but concept and idea are same.

Thats basically saying a car made in the mid 1900 is the same as a car made in 2020's because they have 4 wheels.

It demonstrates a profound ignorance of the improvements made in technology and engineering in over 50 years.

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#166
post #158

My mind is so blown. Definitely disappointing, but let's be honest: this is a win for SpaceX, given that this was the first fully integrated flight test of a very complex, very unproven vehicle. (Yes, the ship has flown before, but this was the booster's first flight.) Did anybody else notice the Apollo-style maneuver to avoid the launch tower?

How could this be a success? It was a catastrophic failure. Sorry but bullshitting releases only works in software.

Tons of data, including achieving max-Q

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#167
post #90
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The irony is that we're all "fail fast" until something actually fails fast.

SpaceX has taken 21 years to get to this point. They have not failed fast. They have seen a long series of huge successes from doing some incredible engineering. Today's test is a small part of that journey.

I'm surprised this statement was downvoted.

It's absolutely correct.

SpaceX is a great demonstration of an "ideal mix" of new and old. It has a lot of "classic" "measure twice; cut once" planning, but also an absolutely essential "YOLO" mindset for live testing, which can cause big failures, but also give the most valuable data.

Their manned flights have been great (except for that toilet thing...).

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#168

I have over 600 hours logged on KSP and 200 hours on KSP2. This is pretty normal in my experience.

As somebody who's never become good at KSP, I've debated whether or not to get KSP2. Does it have better training so that you have clues how to get some of the initial things done so you can build up in career mode better?

I think you should look into it in two years. Right now it’s early access, and in this case early seems to mean “first successful merge to main that builds”

Re: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas

#169
post #158

My mind is so blown. Definitely disappointing, but let's be honest: this is a win for SpaceX, given that this was the first fully integrated flight test of a very complex, very unproven vehicle. (Yes, the ship has flown before, but this was the booster's first flight.) Did anybody else notice the Apollo-style maneuver to avoid the launch tower?

How could this be a success? It was a catastrophic failure. Sorry but bullshitting releases only works in software.

It didn't blow up on the pad. They'll be happy to blow up dozens of these, hopefully incrementally perfecting the design each time.
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