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"Once Starship Prototypes are Done Exploding..." I don't really follow along much I was surprised to read so many had exploded. What I didn't see was how do we
by blakesterz 6y ago
"Once Starship Prototypes are Done Exploding..."
I don't really follow along much I was surprised to read so many had exploded. What I didn't see was how do we know when they've stopped exploding? I guess I mean, how many successes would be enough to say "well these are done exploding now"? This year is 1/2 done, are they really able to say that these are safe in just 6 months?
- 9nGQluzmnq3M 6y agoThe Falcon 1 famously blew up^W^W failed 3 times in a row before its first successful launch. A 4th failure would have strangled SpaceX in the crib. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1
- rrss 6y agoThis doesn't seem like a very accurate summary - none of them really 'blew up.' The first one lit on fire and crashed at T+41. On the second flight, the first stage bashed into the second stage during stage separation and the second stage lost control. On the third flight, the first stage bashed into the second stage and the second stage didn't get to orbit. The videos are all on youtube, you can watch and observe the lack of explosions. Maybe 'blew up' means something different to you than it does to me, but to me it means there was an explosion.
- justapassenger 6y agoSituation is extremely different. It was fully ready design, where they caught last issues in the integration stage. Starship is right now at the state of someone doodling in their notebook.
- fabian2k 6y agoIt's not a matter of safety right now, they are exploding before they get to fly. I think at least two burst during pressure tests, and the last one exploded during a test because the fuel connection to the rocket leaked or broke in some way. The stuff breaking right now isn't really representative of the final product, it's more like problems in ramping up the manufacturing. And the nice thing about reusable rockets is that you can test them much more thoroughly than if you throw them away after each flight.
- Already__Taken 6y agoAs long as we don't keep seeing the tank seems burst then it's all just an integration phase now I think? Engine: Check, Fuel tanks: check?
- baking 6y agoNo tank has failed a pressure test since SN1.
- deelowe 6y agoThat highly depends on what the intent of the test is. Functional tests, for example, shouldn't be exploding on the test pad.
- wcoenen 6y agoWhy does an unmanned orbital test flight need to be "safe"? What does "safe" even mean in that context?
- sacred_numbers 6y agoStarship will launch into orbit well before it is considered safe. If it reaches orbit this year it will take at least 5-10 more launches before they put cargo of any value on it and at least a hundred launches before they put humans on it. The good thing about a rapidly reusable rocket that is being mass produced is that you can launch a hundred times within a few decades months if you want to.
- baking 6y agoBecause the rest didn't "explode" in the usual sense. SN1 lower tank failed a liquid nitrogen pressure test in a rather spectacular way. SN2 was a short one tank version that passed its pressure test. SN3 collapsed under a screwed up pressure test when the lower tank was emptied before the upper tank. Lower tank collapsed under the weight and the upper tank popped when it hit the ground. SN4 didn't really fail any tests. It was the fault of the disconnect. SN5 was supposed to be moved to the test pad today but there may be a delay.
- baking 6y agoTurns out they are moving SN7 which is a new tank made out of the new steel for pressure testing only.