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While it is obviously a test flight and failure was a likely possibility, this looked a bit worse than I had expected. There were I think at least 5 engines out

While it is obviously a test flight and failure was a likely possibility, this looked a bit worse than I had expected. There were I think at least 5 engines out on the first stage, so quite a lot of engine failures. It's impressive it could still continue, but it does indicate that there is still quite some work on Raptor left. And stage separation failed, so while they certainly gathered data they did not gather all the data they would have liked. The interesting part will be to see the turnaround time until the next test.

bearjaws 4y ago
This is likely expected, given that there is not enough weight on the craft to warrant using all engines. If it can fly without them, that gives them a great idea as to how much payload it can take up when they are lit. Edit: I may be wrong, apparently they have a great telemetry integration with their stream to show which engines are lit and which are not.
- fabian2k 4y ago
  Those were in an irregular pattern and not balanced. I'm pretty sure those were actual engine failures and not intentional shutdown.
  - bearjaws 4y ago
    They even had an infographic displaying that exact engine layout, I doubt someone drafted that up to cover up the fact they didn't light. It seems more likely to me that they prepped the infographic of the engine layout ahead of time to keep people informed. I'm just speculating however. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/184413540809965569/1098602798096076900/image.png https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/184413540809965569/10...
    - fabian2k 4y ago
      That was a display of the telemetry, so it indicated the actual status of the engines as far as I understand. If they had intentionally disabled some engines, they would have mentioned that on the stream.
      - Symmetry 4y ago
        Yes. With 33 engines of a new design losing 1 or 2 would be pretty unremarkable and worth adding to the graphic. Losing 5 is getting into "needs improvement" and I'm sure SpaceX will be looking hard at the data they collected to see what about the design or ignition sequence they can improve next time.
        cduzz 4y ago
        I think it's astonishing the thing continued to fly after having parts of it explode and random engines seemed to shut off. With the energies and margins involved staying in one piece through a failure is both amazing and critically important. I'm curious about their launch cadence after this.
throw1234651234 4y ago
Does anyone know what the failure rate on these engines is and what the "safety margin" will be on the final version? As in x/y engines being out is fine?
- dylan604 4y ago
  i'd imagine this margin would be different per mission taking into consideration the payload weight, the desired altitude, etc.
0x0203 4y ago
At T+6ish seconds, while the vehicle is still on the launch pad, you can see a massive explosion at the base of the first stage. Then another engine blows the side of the ship apart shortly after getting airborne (T+29s), then a few more engines go later. It's possible the later failures may have been a result of the big one at the start. I'm wondering if the fist stage simply didn't get the speed necessary for the second stage to safely separate. *edit: Looking at it again, it appears to me at least, that it started tumbling well before expected separation. With no payload, I can imagine they decided not to separate for safety reasons.
- piva00 4y ago
  I noticed the same during ignition/lift-off, there was a chunk of debris catapulted way high up and my first thought was an "oh oh!". I wasn't actually expecting it to go too far from the launch pad, was pretty surprised the rocket kept going.
- clnq 4y ago
  It seems like at T+55s to T+65s you can observe a LOX leak in both telemetry and the bright flame. Around T+02:30 the assembly flips horizontally at least 90 degrees based on the telemetry and the camera views.
Merad 4y ago
From what I've read their bar for this being a success was getting off the launch pad. Everything after that was a bonus.
- idlewords 4y ago
  The rocket successfully exploded high above the launch pad
- foobarbecue 4y ago
  However, it looks like there was widespread damage to the launch facilities due to concrete flying everywhere.
  - pixl97 4y ago
    Tim Dods camera van got crunched by some large debris... seeing the damage in the area is going to be interesting. Also 'hoppy' got some of its cladding ripped off.
- red-iron-pine 4y ago
  My car started and then exploded after I got out of my driveway. Another successful commute to work.
xnx 4y ago
The forced/unnatural feeling clapping/cheering from the video feed is so weird. It seemed like there would be a short silence in the room when something bad happened, then the "APPLAUSE" sign would go on.
- RetpolineDrama 4y ago
  There was nothing forced or unnatural about it.

bearjaws 4y ago

This is likely expected, given that there is not enough weight on the craft to warrant using all engines. If it can fly without them, that gives them a great idea as to how much payload it can take up when they are lit. Edit: I may be wrong, apparently they have a great telemetry integration with their stream to show which engines are lit and which are not.

fabian2k 4y ago
Those were in an irregular pattern and not balanced. I'm pretty sure those were actual engine failures and not intentional shutdown.
- bearjaws 4y ago
  They even had an infographic displaying that exact engine layout, I doubt someone drafted that up to cover up the fact they didn't light. It seems more likely to me that they prepped the infographic of the engine layout ahead of time to keep people informed. I'm just speculating however. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/184413540809965569/1098602798096076900/image.png https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/184413540809965569/10...
  - fabian2k 4y ago
    That was a display of the telemetry, so it indicated the actual status of the engines as far as I understand. If they had intentionally disabled some engines, they would have mentioned that on the stream.
    - Symmetry 4y ago
      Yes. With 33 engines of a new design losing 1 or 2 would be pretty unremarkable and worth adding to the graphic. Losing 5 is getting into "needs improvement" and I'm sure SpaceX will be looking hard at the data they collected to see what about the design or ignition sequence they can improve next time.
      - cduzz 4y ago
        I think it's astonishing the thing continued to fly after having parts of it explode and random engines seemed to shut off. With the energies and margins involved staying in one piece through a failure is both amazing and critically important. I'm curious about their launch cadence after this.

throw1234651234 4y ago

Does anyone know what the failure rate on these engines is and what the "safety margin" will be on the final version? As in x/y engines being out is fine?

dylan604 4y ago
i'd imagine this margin would be different per mission taking into consideration the payload weight, the desired altitude, etc.

0x0203 4y ago

At T+6ish seconds, while the vehicle is still on the launch pad, you can see a massive explosion at the base of the first stage. Then another engine blows the side of the ship apart shortly after getting airborne (T+29s), then a few more engines go later. It's possible the later failures may have been a result of the big one at the start. I'm wondering if the fist stage simply didn't get the speed necessary for the second stage to safely separate. *edit: Looking at it again, it appears to me at least, that it started tumbling well before expected separation. With no payload, I can imagine they decided not to separate for safety reasons.

piva00 4y ago
I noticed the same during ignition/lift-off, there was a chunk of debris catapulted way high up and my first thought was an "oh oh!". I wasn't actually expecting it to go too far from the launch pad, was pretty surprised the rocket kept going.
clnq 4y ago
It seems like at T+55s to T+65s you can observe a LOX leak in both telemetry and the bright flame. Around T+02:30 the assembly flips horizontally at least 90 degrees based on the telemetry and the camera views.

Merad 4y ago

From what I've read their bar for this being a success was getting off the launch pad. Everything after that was a bonus.

idlewords 4y ago
The rocket successfully exploded high above the launch pad
foobarbecue 4y ago
However, it looks like there was widespread damage to the launch facilities due to concrete flying everywhere.
- pixl97 4y ago
  Tim Dods camera van got crunched by some large debris... seeing the damage in the area is going to be interesting. Also 'hoppy' got some of its cladding ripped off.
red-iron-pine 4y ago
My car started and then exploded after I got out of my driveway. Another successful commute to work.

xnx 4y ago

The forced/unnatural feeling clapping/cheering from the video feed is so weird. It seemed like there would be a short silence in the room when something bad happened, then the "APPLAUSE" sign would go on.

RetpolineDrama 4y ago
There was nothing forced or unnatural about it.