4 ms·

Sorry I'm out of the loop/don't really understand what this is. Why would it blow up?

capableweb 4y ago
It's a rocket so there is always a non-zero risk of explosion. This one is also a new, not-yet-launched rocket, making it extra non-zero chance of explosion.
- prox 4y ago
  A rocket is basically a controlled explosion, and when you stop controlling it, explosion is likely.
  - capableweb 4y ago
    Ah yes, just like fossil-fueled cars, but on a different scale :)
    - sandworm101 4y ago
      No. This is external combusion of cryogenic fuels at low pressures. There is no crossover beyond the fact that both involve rapid oxidation.
      - QuadmasterXLII 4y ago
        A gas engine reaches about 1200 psi, a diesel reaches about 2500 psi. Raptor’s combustion chamber sits at 4500 psi. Which is completely nuts, even for a rocket engine. The F1 powering the saturn V only ran at 1000 psi. On the other hand, ANFO, a common low pressure explosive, has a detonation pressure of ~100,000 psi
        sandworm101 4y ago
        Its and apples and oranges comparison of combustion chambers. For purposes of combustion, the relavant pressure is the exaust of the rocket engine where combusion is complete. The burning gas within an ic engine is, at the point of combusion, at a very higher pressure. The ic equivalent of a rocket combusion chamber would be the blast wave starting at the spark, which then moves through the fuel. This difference become more important when discussing the new tech of pulse detonation rocket engines.
      - capableweb 4y ago
        What is a fossil-engine if not a engine that does a bunch of small, controlled explosions very quickly? Sounds like they're identical to me ;)
        sandworm101 4y ago
        This type of rocket doesnt use explosions. It burns fuel steadily. A car detonates fuel in packets. It is a different type of combustion.
zizee 4y ago
Starship is a massive two stage rocket/ship. Most powerful rocket in history. This is the first attempt at launching the full stack. To reach orbit, a rocket needs to be highly optimised, with little room for error. If errors occur, it could explode. Errors are most likely to happen the first time you try something. I am aware it's not strictly aiming to reach orbit
stravant 4y ago
Why would you expect your code to compile and run correctly on the first try? Same energy. They can test / simulate as much as they want on the ground but the first full launch is bound to reveal issues. Best case those issues just stop it from reaching the desired level of performance, more realistically they mean it goes boom at some point.
sandworm101 4y ago
In rocketry, the failure of any one part often results in total system collapse. This rocket has far more such parts than most. And it is a very big system. Any collapse will be spectacular. But if all goes well, that too will be a sight to see. Rocketry is about explosions: either you direct the explosion downwards as thrust or it overtakes you and goes omnidirectional. Either way, an explosion will happen.
perlgeek 4y ago
I'm not aware of a single type of orbital rocket reaching orbit successfully on first attempt. Not all of them blew up, but many did.
- sbuttgereit 4y ago
  SLS? It not only made orbit but also got it's payload around the moon. While it used many previously proven technologies (and it even previously flown engines), those were either modified or combined in previously untried ways, enough that I'd call it a new vehicle for the purposes of a flight test. Speaking of previously proven technologies... the Space Shuttle made it to orbit on it's first launch attempt as well... with crew.
  - panick21_ 4y ago
    By that definition there are lots of rockets who flew successfully at first. Falcon 9 for example.
- rozab 4y ago
  Falcon 9? SLS? STS?
- wefarrell 4y ago
  Falcon 9 did.
- jojobas 4y ago
  Zenit-3SL, Angara, Saturn family.
- sidewndr46 4y ago
  Juno did just fine.
- ianburrell 4y ago
  I think it is no company has reached orbit on first attempt. But they have been successful on later rockets. This includes SpaceX which was blowing up rockets phase with Falcon 1 but were successful with Falcon 9.

It's a rocket so there is always a non-zero risk of explosion. This one is also a new, not-yet-launched rocket, making it extra non-zero chance of explosion.

prox 4y ago
A rocket is basically a controlled explosion, and when you stop controlling it, explosion is likely.
- capableweb 4y ago
  Ah yes, just like fossil-fueled cars, but on a different scale :)
  - sandworm101 4y ago
    No. This is external combusion of cryogenic fuels at low pressures. There is no crossover beyond the fact that both involve rapid oxidation.
    - QuadmasterXLII 4y ago
      A gas engine reaches about 1200 psi, a diesel reaches about 2500 psi. Raptor’s combustion chamber sits at 4500 psi. Which is completely nuts, even for a rocket engine. The F1 powering the saturn V only ran at 1000 psi. On the other hand, ANFO, a common low pressure explosive, has a detonation pressure of ~100,000 psi
      - sandworm101 4y ago
        Its and apples and oranges comparison of combustion chambers. For purposes of combustion, the relavant pressure is the exaust of the rocket engine where combusion is complete. The burning gas within an ic engine is, at the point of combusion, at a very higher pressure. The ic equivalent of a rocket combusion chamber would be the blast wave starting at the spark, which then moves through the fuel. This difference become more important when discussing the new tech of pulse detonation rocket engines.
    - capableweb 4y ago
      What is a fossil-engine if not a engine that does a bunch of small, controlled explosions very quickly? Sounds like they're identical to me ;)
      - sandworm101 4y ago
        This type of rocket doesnt use explosions. It burns fuel steadily. A car detonates fuel in packets. It is a different type of combustion.

zizee 4y ago

Starship is a massive two stage rocket/ship. Most powerful rocket in history. This is the first attempt at launching the full stack. To reach orbit, a rocket needs to be highly optimised, with little room for error. If errors occur, it could explode. Errors are most likely to happen the first time you try something. I am aware it's not strictly aiming to reach orbit

stravant 4y ago

Why would you expect your code to compile and run correctly on the first try? Same energy. They can test / simulate as much as they want on the ground but the first full launch is bound to reveal issues. Best case those issues just stop it from reaching the desired level of performance, more realistically they mean it goes boom at some point.

sandworm101 4y ago

In rocketry, the failure of any one part often results in total system collapse. This rocket has far more such parts than most. And it is a very big system. Any collapse will be spectacular. But if all goes well, that too will be a sight to see. Rocketry is about explosions: either you direct the explosion downwards as thrust or it overtakes you and goes omnidirectional. Either way, an explosion will happen.

perlgeek 4y ago

I'm not aware of a single type of orbital rocket reaching orbit successfully on first attempt. Not all of them blew up, but many did.

sbuttgereit 4y ago
SLS? It not only made orbit but also got it's payload around the moon. While it used many previously proven technologies (and it even previously flown engines), those were either modified or combined in previously untried ways, enough that I'd call it a new vehicle for the purposes of a flight test. Speaking of previously proven technologies... the Space Shuttle made it to orbit on it's first launch attempt as well... with crew.
- panick21_ 4y ago
  By that definition there are lots of rockets who flew successfully at first. Falcon 9 for example.
rozab 4y ago
Falcon 9? SLS? STS?
wefarrell 4y ago
Falcon 9 did.
jojobas 4y ago
Zenit-3SL, Angara, Saturn family.
sidewndr46 4y ago
Juno did just fine.
ianburrell 4y ago
I think it is no company has reached orbit on first attempt. But they have been successful on later rockets. This includes SpaceX which was blowing up rockets phase with Falcon 1 but were successful with Falcon 9.