Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

461–470 of 560 posts

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#461

Post by reddog »

WalterBright wrote: post #448
nixos wrote: post #423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, it's 2 for 29. But if you look at the FT version, it's 1 for 8. 1. What kind of insurance will be needed on a billion dollar NSA satellite? $100 million? $125 million? It's not so cheep anymore, and considering delays etc. It's not such a great deal anymore. 2. They probably should have a "stable" platform and a "beta" platform, with a discount offered for beta. Unfortunately, the "move fast and break…

> Unfortunately, the "move fast and break things" attitude doesn't work with rockets. Rocket technology has never advanced without catastrophic failures. "Breaking things" is the only way forward with it. Rockets, of necessity, have to push designs to their limits, or they'll never lift off the pad.

I don't know if I agree. Aside from Challenger (I know -- a pretty big aside), what catastrophic launch failures were there with the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo program rockets? Or the Delta 2. And doesn't the old-fashion-can't-even-land-on-a barge Atlas 5 have a perfect launch and mission success record of 62 of 62?

It seems like building and launching a rocket that doesn't explode every 14th time is possible but its not cheap. The US has been doing it since the 60's. SpaceX may turn out to be OK for delivering Tang to the ISS, but let's let something else carry the Webb into orbit.

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#462

Post by jsprogrammer »

sangnoir wrote: post #457
nixos wrote: post #423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, it's 2 for 29. But if you look at the FT version, it's 1 for 8. 1. What kind of insurance will be needed on a billion dollar NSA satellite? $100 million? $125 million? It's not so cheep anymore, and considering delays etc. It's not such a great deal anymore. 2. They probably should have a "stable" platform and a "beta" platform, with a discount offered for beta. Unfortunately, the "move fast and break…

Speaking of insurance: the type of insurance policy that was taken on this unfortunate payload would only kick in at launch (ignition). Test firing was not covered. 1. https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/771409983074426881

Look at the later response: https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/771410879770456064

Pre-launch was covered by a different policy.

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#463

Post by stock_toaster »

claar wrote: post #421
trothamel wrote: post #228

Here's good video of the test/failure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BgJEXQkjNQ#t=1m10s

Frame-by-frame: http://rowvid.com/?v=_BgJEXQkjNQ&t=71.75&s=0.25

Was that a bird flying in the background right as the explosion occurred? If so, it must have really scared the crap out of it!

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#464

Post by troyastorino »

nixos wrote: post #423
rbanffy wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upper stage, so, unrelated to the reused first stage. Rocketry is hard... And very unforgiving.

Unfortunately, it's 2 for 29. But if you look at the FT version, it's 1 for 8. 1. What kind of insurance will be needed on a billion dollar NSA satellite? $100 million? $125 million? It's not so cheep anymore, and considering delays etc. It's not such a great deal anymore. 2. They probably should have a "stable" platform and a "beta" platform, with a discount offered for beta. Unfortunately, the "move fast and break…

Insurance policies for rocket launches typically expect 1 in 10 rockets to blow up on the pad. ULA's 100% success rate is unusual for the industry. Elon and SpaceX are obviously shooting for higher reliability than the industry standard, but I don't think you should chalk this up to 'move fast and break things' causing substandard reliability.

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#465

Post by rodgerd »

gist wrote: post #236
mikeash wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You wouldn't say it directly to someone involved in the project, but you'll say it in a public forum where there's a decent chance some of those people will see it?

Exactly. That is the problem with the entire PC thing. You have to walk around on eggshells being worried that you will offend someone and never say what you think. I mean seriously. Be worried that someone who worked on a rocket project for SpaceX might be offended by what I say? I am supposed to not say anything because of that?

No, you're supposed to understand the concept of "manners", like a functional adult, instead carrying on like an overgrown toddler.

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#466

Post by rbanffy »

tmptmp wrote: post #438
rbanffy wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On brain surgery, the worst case scenario is one dead person. Rockets tend to inflate the body count prodigiously.

On a slightly light-but-not-so-light note: A brain surgery can result in worse still: like, surgeon performs a surgery, makes some mistake, the patient is alive and gets up and goes home, but due to the surgical damage caused becomes a serial killer. So, strictly speaking a brain surgery can also result in a body count that is greater than 1. Respectfully submitted.

That's a good one. Thanks.

I wonder if there is a surgeon who's that skilled.

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#467

Post by DigitalJack »

shoegumfoot wrote: post #142
DigitalJack wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For oxygen to be liquid it needs high pressure and low temperature.

Actually, atmospheric pressure is enough, and oxygen boils at a slightly higher temperature than nitrogen.

thanks, I should have said "or."

Re: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

#470

Post by hyperbovine »

throwanem wrote: post #412
npiazza83 wrote: post #373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't like it? Send an email to hn@ycombinator.com "Tone" policing on HN is getting a bit ridiculous.

God forfend anyone should try to maintain a quality of discourse that encourages thoughtful people to stick around.

The thing about thoughtful people is that they dislike being told what to think.
Post reply on HN