Watched live. Engine s/n 32 shut down at ~ 1min. 42secs. Engine s/n 36 shut down after more than 3 mins. Engine s/n 42 performed well the entire flight. The flaps worked perfectly and guided the prototype to a dead center landing. Engine s/n 36 did reignite during the lang but it was sputtering and not much help. With only one engine (s/n 42) working there wasn’t enough thrust to keep it from a hard landing and a subsequent Rapid Unplanned Disassembly.
Prototype number 9 is fully assembled and ready for the next high altitude test. It is outfitted with more mature engines. If they all stay lit and all reignite number 9 should perform as intended.
We definitely can't have this happen on Mars, lol.
What about landing arms or struts? Do the fins serve as the struts? I didn’t see any landing arms deploy!!!
Thanks for that good info! Were the flaps the primary test? Maybe the more mature engines weren’t risked due to flap uncertainties?
I understand that Musk tweeted that the two engines shut down in sequence early, due to the FAA asking for a lower altitude flight. 12.5K vice 15K. Musk also said that they lacked pressure in the header tanks for landing.
Rapid Unplanned Disassembly Emergency. That’s just plain RUDE! Seriously, I love your jargon, RUD.