SpaceX rocket explodes on launch pad

[Legend]

Breaking news, no idea what's up 


https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/falcon-9-explodes-amos-6-static-fire/


It seems the explosion was caused 3 minutes before the engines were to ignite, so this was a problem with fuel loading procedures. Either way, it will be months before the next SpaceX rocket launch.

[Legend]

SLC-40's still smouldering. ???? pic.twitter.com/KLO9eyvY4u

— Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) September 1, 2016

Explosion at SpaceX Pad 40 at 9:07am ET resulted in loss of the rocket & the payload. Pad was clear & no injuries. pic.twitter.com/4KQD1MvOmz

— talia landman (@taliaeliana) September 1, 2016

[Legend]

[DD_Bwest]

fudge oh no :/

watching it slowly,   seems it was the second stage that blew first?   

then the fire went down through the core and you could tell a second large explosion, my guess would be the first stage.      then you can see the payload + fairing fall to the ground and boom.

also, at around the 50second mark,  the second stage clearly begins venting.   this could be normal venting, but who knows.   its visually and audibly there.

its about 20 seconds before the initial explosion

the venting could be from a fade cut though,   the video seems like it skips a bit

[Legend]

fudge oh no :/

watching it slowly,   seems it was the second stage that blew first?  

then the fire went down through the core and you could tell a second large explosion, my guess would be the first stage.      then you can see the payload + fairing fall to the ground and boom.

also, at around the 50second mark,  the second stage clearly begins venting.   this could be normal venting, but who knows.   its visually and audibly there.

its about 20 seconds before the initial explosion

Yeah second stage exploded during loading, and then everything else fails from there. Some reports said fuel tanks on the ground exploded too.

First reused delayed to 2017, Falcon Heavy delayed to late 2017, Crew Dragon delayed to 2018, Red Dragon delayed to 2020... man this probably sucks. Puts a negative tone on the BFR reveal too.

[DD_Bwest]

wasnt crs7 also the second stage?   this fudges up so much


less than a month until bfr, and all the talk will be about this      

[Legend]

wasnt crs7 also the second stage?   this fudges up so much


less than a month until bfr, and all the talk will be about this      

CRS7 was a strut in the second stage that was manufactured subpar by the supplier. It failed during launch even though the forces weren't anywhere near what it was rated for. SpaceX found the subpar performance in all of the struts so it was just luck nothing exploded sooner.


This would be a completely unrelated issue.

[DD_Bwest]

CRS7 was a strut in the second stage that was manufactured subpar by the supplier. It failed during launch even though the forces weren't anywhere near what it was rated for. SpaceX found the subpar performance in all of the struts so it was just luck nothing exploded sooner.


This would be a completely unrelated issue.

im just hoping its possible that its unrelated to anything in the first stage,  to make everyone feel better about those returned cores.

[Legend]

@scrappydog yes. This seems instant from a human perspective, but it really a fast fire, not an explosion. Dragon would have been fine.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 1, 2016

spacex GIF | Create, Discover and Share on Gfycat

[DD_Bwest]

thats pretty sweet.      doesnt the dragon 2 have a test  eventually where it essentially aborts mid launch?


also, wouldnt this be a BLEVE?   i consider those explosions lol

[Legend]

Anomaly Updates | SpaceX

Seems the launch pad is toast and will be over a year till it can be used again. Man is SpaceX luckey that they've been building a second launch pad right next door. That pad should be ready by November.

thats pretty sweet.      doesnt the dragon 2 have a test  eventually where it essentially aborts mid launch?


also, wouldnt this be a BLEVE?   i consider those explosions lol

Yeah dragon 2 needs to do that test so hopefully it's the only rocket that explodes next year!

[Legend]

SpaceX President Shotwell: We anticipate return to flight in November, meaning down for three months. Next flight from CCAFS, then to VAFB.

— Peter B. de Selding (@pbdes) September 13, 2016

Some reports are also saying the return to flight will be with Falcon Heavy.

Even though this is coming from SpaceX I'd take the date with a huge grain of salt. Like all things SpaceX, you need to convert from Mars time.

[DD_Bwest]

wait what?!?   the other launchpad is only 3 months away from being finished?

i can see the Falcon heavy launch being next.  will be sweet if true

[NeverDies]

I'm just really glad that no one was hurt. That blast was massive.

[Legend]

I'm just really glad that no one was hurt. That blast was massive.

Yup that's why they evacuate  before all of these tests and launches. Assume the worst.