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SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 11:21 am
This just happened within the last hour. SpaceX, a private company, launched a rocket that was loaded with supplies and a docking module for the International Space Station. The supplies were not critical, as the Russians will be launching a new rocket they designed loaded with more supplies later this week.
This seems like a minor setback, but I wonder how much money was lost in both supplies and the cost of manufacturing that docking module (it was capable of handling docking of more than one space module). Two steps forward, one step back I guess.
Quote:The company, founded by billionaire PayPal founder Elon Musk, had tried twice before to guide the rocket, which is only in use for a few minutes following launch, back to a barge where it could be safely collected, but both prior attempts had ended in failure. Collecting the rocket after launch would have been a significant advance, but instead the company will be dealing with a signficant setback to its efforts to pioneer privatized space flight.
http://time.com/3939166/spacex-rocket-explode/
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 11:27 am
Hm crap. Let's just hope that they learn a lot from that.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 11:31 am
NASA has had their fair share of pitfalls.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Tell me again about the joys of the private sector.'
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 12:24 pm
(June 28, 2015 at 12:18 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Tell me again about the joys of the private sector.'
Private sector don't get me wrong is.... useless. They are not going to do deep space things that NASA does.
SpaceX better jump on doing deep space space exploration before another company decides to do that.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 12:27 pm
(This post was last modified: June 28, 2015 at 12:28 pm by Anomalocaris.)
(June 28, 2015 at 11:21 am)Secular Elf Wrote: This just happened within the last hour. SpaceX, a private company, launched a rocket that was loaded with supplies and a docking module for the International Space Station. The supplies were not critical, as the Russians will be launching a new rocket they designed loaded with more supplies later this week.
This seems like a minor setback, but I wonder how much money was lost in both supplies and the cost of manufacturing that docking module (it was capable of handling docking of more than one space module). Two steps forward, one step back I guess.
Quote:The company, founded by billionaire PayPal founder Elon Musk, had tried twice before to guide the rocket, which is only in use for a few minutes following launch, back to a barge where it could be safely collected, but both prior attempts had ended in failure. Collecting the rocket after launch would have been a significant advance, but instead the company will be dealing with a signficant setback to its efforts to pioneer privatized space flight.
http://time.com/3939166/spacex-rocket-explode/
Unfortunately, I am not seeing the 2 steps forward. So far they have promised, but they have not actually demonstrate any capability which the Russians do not already do better and more reliably, with dated technology and much derided soviet bequeathed know how. All they have done is break minor beuracratic ground from NASA perspective using mostly as yet unfulfilled promises.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 2:17 pm
(June 28, 2015 at 12:24 pm)dyresand Wrote: (June 28, 2015 at 12:18 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Tell me again about the joys of the private sector.'
Private sector don't get me wrong is.... useless. They are not going to do deep space things that NASA does.
SpaceX better jump on doing deep space space exploration before another company decides to do that.
No they are not going to deep space. But I heard an interview with nasa boss guy on NdGTs show, and he basically said that they would be useful for getting all the near earth orbit duties off of NASA's back to free up ressources for other things. I can't really judge how sensible that is tbh.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Quote: he basically said that they would be useful for getting all the near earth orbit duties off of NASA's back to free up ressources for other things.
With more promise than performance it seems.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Geez, rockets are meant to explode.
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RE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes After Launch
June 28, 2015 at 5:31 pm
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)
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