Posted on 08/22/2014 6:22:49 PM PDT by BenLurkin
No injuries are reported after a SpaceX rocket prototype detonated in Texas today (Aug. 22) after an anomaly was found in the rocket, the company said in a statement.
The Falcon 9 Reusable (F9R) a successor to the Grasshopper vertical take-off and landing rocket was completing the latest in a series of ambitious tests that previously saw the prototype successfully testing new steerable fins.
Todays test was particularly complex, pushing the limits of the vehicle further than any previous test, SpaceX said in a statement (which you can read in full below the jump.) As is our practice, the company will be reviewing the flight record details to learn more about the performance of the vehicle prior to our next test.
The company said it would provide more updates as it found information. SpaceX founder Elon Musk issued a brief statement of his own on Twitter:
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Apparently it is rocket science.
This was a “kill” explosion or a selfie quick combustion?
This is good. You want the failures to show up during tests.
HAMAS are NOT Rocket Scientists.
Elon’s tweet says it only “auto-terminated”.
Thank goodness it didn’t self-destruct.
The article says this:
“During the flight, an anomaly was detected in the vehicle and the flight termination system automatically terminated the mission.”
Rut Roh!
TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS!
Some tests do need do need be taken to the point of destruction to be useful. However, that’s planned ahead of time.
This is good since they can study the failure and learn, during testing instead of later in production. Rockets ARE tricky.
I designed and delivered spacecraft attitude control systems in my time as an aerospace engineer and believe me I’d rather have the problem during development, rather than when there’s a multimillion dollar payload riding along.
PROTOTYPE —almost supposed to happen.
Big deal.
Kinda like the test they did with the next generation martian lander last month.
The parachute failed but the air bag braking system around the rim of the craft worked as they hoped. It was a successful test and they learned what they needed to learn.
oops!
>anomaly was found in the rocket
not what you want to hear on Sat night..
Thanks.
Go Musk, you liberal bastard!
/johnny
it’s a good company that had major success.
They launched a bunch of satellites and only had one partial failure — the secondary cargo was let go too low
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