The SpaceX Thread

[Brian in Mesa]

SpaceX's 1st Starship launches on epic test flight, explodes in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'

A fully stacked Starship left the ground today (April 20) for the first time ever — and it came to an explosive end high in the Texas sky.

www.space.com

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[puckhead]

It sure got really quiet in that crowd just ahead of the explosion and then it explodes and everyone cheers? Is this the space version of a captive audience?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

It sure got really quiet in that crowd just ahead of the explosion and then it explodes and everyone cheers? Is this the space version of a captive audience?

Right? I guess they were happy to just get that far.

 

[MadCardDisease]

So the main goal was to get off the launch pad and not blow up the big tower. Everything else was gravy.

The silence came when the Main Engine Cutoff never occurred. Everyone knew that getting to orbit was not likely on this first attempt but cheer was for getting as far as they did.

 

[Raindog]

People have never seemingly appreciated that the Hindenburg also made a successful crossing of the Atlantic that the Titanic could only dream about.

 

[elindholm]

People have never seemingly appreciated that the Hindenburg also made a successful crossing of the Atlantic that the Titanic could only dream about.

And look how safe the Hindenburg turned out to be! I agree, that's a great comparison.

 

[Dback Jon]

I understand Space-X's autofly feature needs a little work.

 

[UncleChris]

And the hits just keep on coming!

https://crooksandliars.com/2023/04/musk-s-spacex-explosion-has-caused#google_vignette

 

[Russ Smith]

And the hits just keep on coming!

https://crooksandliars.com/2023/04/musk-s-spacex-explosion-has-caused#google_vignette

That's the part that is being ignored or intentionally hidden. The reason Tesla used the launch setup they used is that the intent is to go somewhere else and then be able to launch and return. If you have to use a water cooled launchpad to safely take off from Earth, you can't then do that to come home from the moon, Mars etc because you can't guarantee you've got water for a water cooled launchpad.

So while they insist the goal was to get a certain height etc, the "actual" goal was a total failure, prove they could take off without a special launchpad. Multiple engines were destroyed on takeoff they think from rocks and debris.

It caused all sorts of secondary damage, one car was virtually destroyed by debris that went way beyond the debris area.

Yes this kind of stuff happens there's a learning curve, but at least be honest. The actual goal is to prove they can take off from a setup that can be duplicated in space, they did NOT do that.

 

[MadCardDisease]

That's the part that is being ignored or intentionally hidden. The reason Tesla used the launch setup they used is that the intent is to go somewhere else and then be able to launch and return. If you have to use a water cooled launchpad to safely take off from Earth, you can't then do that to come home from the moon, Mars etc because you can't guarantee you've got water for a water cooled launchpad.

The Booster was the one that tore up the launch pad. While the Starship has successfully taken off multiple times with no damage to the launch pad and no water used.

On the Moon/Mars/Elsewhere it would only be the Starship returning to earth. Plus the gravity on the Moon and Mars is a fraction of what it is on earth. So less power would be needed to get back into space.

And if you compare the Engines on both space craft you can see why the booster tore up the pad. 29 Raptor engines on the Booster vs 3 Raptor engines on the Starship. The Starship also has 3 larger Raptor Vacuum engines for use in space.

Booster Engines:

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Starship Engines:

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[CardsFan88]

When it was tumbling, it looked like one of my Kerbel rockets. But sometimes when they tumble I can still will them into space.

 

[MadCardDisease]

The 4th test flight of Starship and it's Super Heavy Booster was a massive success!

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[oaken1]

The 4th test flight of Starship and it's Super Heavy Booster was a massive success!

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what they are doing is exciting. it impresses me how young most of the team is and despite my general lack of faith in the younger generations I have high faith that these guys will succeed

 

[MadCardDisease]

Looks like the during the next test flight they may try and catch the booster with the "Chopsticks" as shown in this animation.

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[dreamcastrocks]

Looks like the during the next test flight they may try and catch the booster with the "Chopsticks" as shown in this animation.

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Seems to be a lot safer than having something that tall trying to balance itself. I assume the chopsticks will lower the capsule down to the ground safely.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Seems to be a lot safer than having something that tall trying to balance itself. I assume the chopsticks will lower the capsule down to the ground safely.

Yes. They are already used for stacking and unstacking:

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[Dan H]

Best touchdown you'll see all day.

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[MadCardDisease]

Incredible!!!!

 

[Devilmaycare]

I'm blown away by what the SpaceX engineers are pulling off.