SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch

[Minimalist]

Endurance seems to be one thing that SpaceX doesn't have to worry about yet.

[AFTT47]

I don't mean to be critical, and I wholeheartedly support SpaceX, but if it is a pressurization issue with the oxidizer tank, it is somewhat disappointing. The spacelaunch business knows how to do that.  I know citing preferences for new and exotic failure modes seems a little wonky, but damn, I hate it when known engineering challenges bite someone on the ass.

(disclaimer:  I formerly worked for an aerospace company and some of my job functions were related to endurance testing of aviation and space hardware)

Thanks for the intelligent input, Vorlon.

These guys do things differently so I wouldn't be surprised if they fell prey to something the more experienced players would have caught.

[vorlon13]

I recall an endurance test some years ago of an electronics box for a military aircraft.  It was designed with the full knowledge the prototype was going to be frozen, baked and shaked prior to going into production.

Unfortunately, that little detail seems not to have percolated into the engineering teams collective consciousness as not even the carrying handle survived the test.  You may assume since they failed to design the handle strong enough, the rest of the assembly was catastrophically fragile.

It was a nightmare.

[Minimalist]

Sounds like the F-35!

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-f-35-st...em/5390065

For all its technology, the F-35 cannot fly in bad weather  

Even before the recent oil leak and fire episodes, the F-35B (Marine edition) was scheduled to fly for the Queen only if the weather was good. (Another of the plane’s shortcomings is that it can’t fly with complete safety in the rain.)