3 ms·
More likely it was a floating ITAR export risk than a major threat to marine safety.
by Kelbit 9y ago
More likely it was a floating ITAR export risk than a major threat to marine safety.
- IntronExon 9y agoLarge pressure vessels are essentially bombs; in this case a very large bomb.
- michaelt 9y agoHasn't most of the energy been spent at that point? I was under the impression space launches were miserly with fuel for weight reasons?
- IntronExon 9y agoYou’re right, but it’s still under incredible pressure. You’re talking about liquified cryogenic fuels, so the remainder has greatly expanded over time. Even a small amount of remaining fuel must be vented to render it safe. Volumetric expansion is a bitch!
- Kubuxu 9y agoFuel in SpaceX rockets (and other working gases) are cryo-cooled, after tanks warm up, even small amount of liquid gas stored in a tank evaporates into a lot of gas which can create very high pressure.
- akira2501 9y agoCryogenic oxygen has something like a 700:1 expansion ratio when it is warmed into a gas.
- vvanders 9y agoTake a look at all of the failed landings[1], even after they land on the barge they still go boom(or RUD if you prefer that term) when the structural integrity is lost. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvim4rsNHkQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvim4rsNHkQ
- JackFr 9y ago> More likely it was a floating ITAR export risk Indeed. Literally an ICBM.