Re: SpaceX Falcon Fails on Third Launch Attempt

Derek Lyons wrote:
"Jorge R. Frank" <jrfrank@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Dale Harris wrote:
"Mark R. Whittington" <mwhittingt@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:00a7cf8c-0362-4588-945a-98c6562ac07a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The third attempt by the private space launch firm SpaceX to launch
its Falcon 1 rocket into orbit has met with failure. The failure of
the second stage to separate from the first stage after launch seems
to be the cause.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/926881/spacex_falcon_1_fails_on_third_launch.html?cat=15
Very disappointing. Three attempts and still no success. How hard can it be?
Evidently, harder than SpaceX originally thought, and harder than you think.

Is that really true?

I think so.

The first flight failed because of screwing up basic engineering. I'm
betting they specced their materials based on short exposure at
Vandenberg, then didn't inspect the vehicle after a long exposure in
the more demanding environment of Kwalajein.

The second flight seems to have failed because of screwing up basic
rocket science... The resonance of something in the attitude control
system matched that of the tank, resulting in a failure to properly
compensate. (AIUI.)

The problem with "rocket science" is not that the individual concepts are difficult to grasp, it's that there are so damn many of them, and none of them can be ignored.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: SpaceX Falcon Fails on Third Launch Attempt
    ... its Falcon 1 rocket into orbit has met with failure. ... the second stage to separate from the first stage after launch seems ... I wish SpaceX all the best, but I'm not convinced they can be the ones to ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: SpaceX Falcon Fails on Third Launch Attempt
    ... its Falcon 1 rocket into orbit has met with failure. ... the second stage to separate from the first stage after launch seems ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: SpaceX Falcon Fails on Third Launch Attempt
    ... its Falcon 1 rocket into orbit has met with failure. ... the second stage to separate from the first stage after launch seems ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: >>> The solution of all Ares-I problems: the "J-2Y" engine >>>
    ... :have a roughly one in two hundred failure rate, then surely liquid rockets ... :with roughly the same failure rate deserve to be just as shunned. ... higly reliable auxiliary rocket designed to ... The fact remains that typical solid booster ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: SpaceX armchair quarterbacking
    ... The cause of the failure was apparently a fuel leak, ... in a fire and burnthrough of a pressurization line, ... Hopefully the engine components can be recovered and the ... as soon as the rocket left the pad. ...
    (sci.space.policy)