6 ms·

SpaceX’s Unnerving Silence on an Explosive Incident

12 points by adventured 8y ago

sunstone 8y ago
As I recall, a few years ago when one of their rockets exploded during a test they were similarly close lipped until they were able to determine the root cause. And it took quite a long time. In a situation like this, there's not much point in talking until you have something definitive to say.
- JulianMorrison 8y ago
  What even could they say? "Uh, well, it blew up." We knew that.
  - avmich 8y ago
    SpaceX is famous for having a lot of telemetry channels, so it's possible they have a lot of data for the event. It's also more likely than not that they had plans for various outcomes of testing, probably including this one, even though one of the extremes. Specific data can influence future plans, which won't be final until the end of investigation - but openly start talking about details and options now will do wonders to build trust with the public, which all PR departments should crave for.
- craftyguy 8y ago
  While I completely agree with you, the armchair investigators of HN and the rest of the internet had no problem speculating about Boeing and the 737 thing before anything definitive was concluded by any actual investigations by real investigators who know what they are doing. The sudden change of heart here is mildly entertaining.
soared 8y ago
Is this literally just a hit piece on spacex because they only released one official statement so far? You’d think it would be normal operations to release a statement, run an investigation, then release another statement after it concludes.
ryanmarsh 8y ago
This is the epitome of bike shedding. Every journalist thinks they know what Elon Musk should be doing.
- avmich 8y ago
  It doesn't matter, as soon as journalist correctly represents the public's opinion. It's the job of company to answer those expectation, if they don't want to risk misunderstanding from the public.
  - lsaferite 8y ago
    I'm part of 'the public' and I also understand it's a complex investigation. They have nothing to say because the investigation is ongoing. Full stop.
    - avmich 8y ago
      Not all public believe they shouldn't say anything before investigation is over.
torpfactory 8y ago
I don’t think journalists are necessarily aware of (maybe they just don’t care) how long root cause investigations can take. Obviously the euphemistically described “anomaly” is going to set them back, but going public without a clear root cause would make them look incompetent.
- avmich 8y ago
  That's the point. Public wants to see confirmation of their competence, and that's best seen in handling situations like this.
walkingolof 8y ago
Pretty useless article, these things take time. Worst case scenario is that SuperDracos has to go and be replaced by an external system (I.e a tower)
JackFr 8y ago
As long is NASA and the SpaceX board are happy, what does it matter what this reporter thinks? Also the word 'unnerving' is pure clickbait.
- avmich 8y ago
  > what does it matter what this reporter thinks? A lot, as reporter here represents the general public - which is more important to them (the public) than NASA or SpaceX board.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

12 points by adventured 8y ago

As I recall, a few years ago when one of their rockets exploded during a test they were similarly close lipped until they were able to determine the root cause. And it took quite a long time. In a situation like this, there's not much point in talking until you have something definitive to say.

JulianMorrison 8y ago
What even could they say? "Uh, well, it blew up." We knew that.
- avmich 8y ago
  SpaceX is famous for having a lot of telemetry channels, so it's possible they have a lot of data for the event. It's also more likely than not that they had plans for various outcomes of testing, probably including this one, even though one of the extremes. Specific data can influence future plans, which won't be final until the end of investigation - but openly start talking about details and options now will do wonders to build trust with the public, which all PR departments should crave for.
craftyguy 8y ago
While I completely agree with you, the armchair investigators of HN and the rest of the internet had no problem speculating about Boeing and the 737 thing before anything definitive was concluded by any actual investigations by real investigators who know what they are doing. The sudden change of heart here is mildly entertaining.

soared 8y ago

Is this literally just a hit piece on spacex because they only released one official statement so far? You’d think it would be normal operations to release a statement, run an investigation, then release another statement after it concludes.

ryanmarsh 8y ago

This is the epitome of bike shedding. Every journalist thinks they know what Elon Musk should be doing.

avmich 8y ago
It doesn't matter, as soon as journalist correctly represents the public's opinion. It's the job of company to answer those expectation, if they don't want to risk misunderstanding from the public.
- lsaferite 8y ago
  I'm part of 'the public' and I also understand it's a complex investigation. They have nothing to say because the investigation is ongoing. Full stop.
  - avmich 8y ago
    Not all public believe they shouldn't say anything before investigation is over.

torpfactory 8y ago

I don’t think journalists are necessarily aware of (maybe they just don’t care) how long root cause investigations can take. Obviously the euphemistically described “anomaly” is going to set them back, but going public without a clear root cause would make them look incompetent.

avmich 8y ago
That's the point. Public wants to see confirmation of their competence, and that's best seen in handling situations like this.

walkingolof 8y ago

Pretty useless article, these things take time. Worst case scenario is that SuperDracos has to go and be replaced by an external system (I.e a tower)

JackFr 8y ago

As long is NASA and the SpaceX board are happy, what does it matter what this reporter thinks? Also the word 'unnerving' is pure clickbait.

avmich 8y ago
> what does it matter what this reporter thinks? A lot, as reporter here represents the general public - which is more important to them (the public) than NASA or SpaceX board.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]