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Why does the rocket tipping over cause a loss of hull integrity? Does that mean that it actually exploded, just from going horizontal?
by lefrancaiz 12y ago
Why does the rocket tipping over cause a loss of hull integrity? Does that mean that it actually exploded, just from going horizontal?
- geetee 12y agoThink belly flops on a rocket scale.
- icegreentea 12y agoProbably not exploded, just that the lateral stresses that the rocket is designed for. Rockets have to withstand a lot of different types of forces (axial, all sorts of vibrational, probably hoop type stresses), but massive lateral shocks aren't really one of them.
- mbell 12y ago> Probably not exploded I don't know about that: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/488718649515986944 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/488718649515986944 Even with minimal fuel, the tanks are still highly pressurized, a loss in hull integrity would result is a rapid depressurization of those tanks. It may not have been a fiery explosion, but I would bet it made a hell of a bang.
- bashinator 12y agoI think it just meant that because it was wholly immersed in water, it's not worth refurbishing.
- rspeed 12y agoCompare the amount of force it takes to crush an aluminum can from the sides vs. from the top and bottom. A rocket is the same basic shape and material.