Elon Musk’s SpaceX prototype fail

[jeff of pa]

Dec 9, 2020 A SpaceX "Starship" unmanned prototype exploded upon impact while attempting to land about six and half minutes after launch on Wednesday

Watch Elon Musk’s SpaceX prototype explode dramatically on landing after taking its first high -altitude flight.

good thing it was empty

[smokeythecat]

Oops!

[pepperj]

He'll get it done

[Madmox]

I think even Elon said there was only a 10% chance of success. At least I seem to recall that.

[alan m]

Not surprised at all

[galenrog]

That explosion was spectacular!

Time for more coffee.

[alan m]

He'll get it done

Not likely, there is a major fundamental flaw with the concept.

[jeff of pa]

I think there was at Least 1 Maybe More Fails Getting it Up

[Treasure_Hunter]

Not likely, there is a major fundamental flaw with the concept.

He will get it done, they been landing the first stages after launch for over a year from 50 miles high, both on land and barges off shore.

[alan m]

He will get it done, they been landing the first stages after launch for over a year from 50 miles high, both on land and barges off shore.

It is a high risk concept, designing a system which violates the safe approach of stability engineering for dynamic systems. It only takes the component which forces stability to fail and the whole thing destroys itself and the cargo.
I think Musk does this for attention just like his red tesla in space fiasco.
there is a reason why engineers never attempted to soft land first stage rockets, just like there is a reason that reentry vehicles were designed to be inherently stable upon reentry without the need for positioning thrusters.
Space X engineers are putting too much faith in gadgets and very little design work into what makes a space vehilce as safe as it can be.
there is not doubt in my mind that this venture will end badly.

[jeff of pa]

as I see it, in order to actually pull it off safely one of 3 things must happen .
the ship must be very light at landing, empty of fuel when landing,
or a non volatile fuel that doesn't ignite when used .

I wonder if first stages are Normally Very Light, Compared to the SpaceX prototype.

even if they land one safely, you know the odds, at some point gonna be a big ooops

[alan m]

as I see it, in order to actually pull it off safely one of 3 things must happen .
the ship must be very light at landing, empty of fuel when landing,
or a non volatile fuel that doesn't ignite when used .

I wonder if first stages are Normally Very Light, Compared to the SpaceX prototype.

even if they land one safely, you know the odds, at some point gonna be a big ooops

From what I have gathered working in the industry, the first stage is the most rugged as it needs to handle the highest load factor, this stress twist the airframe significantly as was demonstrated in the Challanger inquest.

[jeff of pa]

I see in spite of the explosion, they are calling it a success

I wouldn't want to be that Successful

[Fat]

The video Ive watched of those landing on a barge straight up just looks so fake when it works. Ive wondered why the boosters dont just pop a wing out and landing gear so to glide home to a landing strip.
Ill never understand why we retired the shuttle. So what its outdated? So is a horse drawn plough and a john deere GP. and you can still use in your farm.?.

[alan m]

The video Ive watched of those landing on a barge straight up just looks so fake when it works. Ive wondered why the boosters dont just pop a wing out and landing gear so to glide home to a landing strip.
Ill never understand why we retired the shuttle. So what its outdated? So is a horse drawn plough and a john deere GP. and you can still use in your farm.?.

I loved the space shuttle, but.......it had some serious design flaws. It was a program which was rushed to operational status due to perceived public opinion. When the AirForce allocated its entire research budget to the program early on, that essentially signed the shuttles death warrant as they became the controlling factor in any further improvements or development, as the X37B would indicate.