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SpaceX's Falcon 1 Destroyed During Maiden Voyage

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the more-waiting-to-become-an-asteroid-farmer dept.

legolas writes "SpaceX's Falcon 1 is the world's first privately funded satellite launch vehicle. After a successful static engine test on Wednesday, it was launched today. Unfortunately, the rocket was destroyed shortly after launch."

10 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. I had wondered... by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 4, Informative

    I thought it a bit odd that the static test was for only three seconds and took place the day before the launch. I would not be surpised if the accident was a by-product of them pushing their schedule.

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    1. Re:I had wondered... by david.given · · Score: 5, Informative
      Just as bizarre was that they had a payload on their first launch attempt.

      The payload massed 20kg (the Falcon could have lifted about 700kg) and was built by Air Force Academy cadets. I suspect it was being launched, er, would have been launched for free. After all, you have to test rockets with something, and you may as well launch something useful rather than a dumb telemetry package.

    2. Re:I had wondered... by DerekLyons · · Score: 4, Informative
      I thought it a bit odd that the static test was for only three seconds and took place the day before the launch. I would not be surpised if the accident was a by-product of them pushing their schedule.
      Pushing the schedule? This launch is eighteen months behind schedule.
  2. Guidance? by TopSpin · · Score: 4, Informative

    Watching the webcast it looked to me like the vehicle had a guidance problem; the on-board view seemed to be spinning. The feed didn't really provide enough to tell, however.

    It definitely cleared the pad and I think it got to a few thousand feet.

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  3. Re:Impact or RSO destroyed? by nacnud75 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think the RSO terminated the thrust due to excessive rolling (there is no 'self destruct' on the faclon 1, then engin just awitches off)

  4. More details of the flight by nacnud75 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Live video was shown of the vehicle's ascent from an onboard downward pointing camera. Within a few seconds the feed started to become intermittent. The small amount of imagery available showed a bright yellow glow protruding away from the normal exhaust pattern, as the rocket began to roll violently. The ascent profile also appeared to be more horizontal than what would be expected for that stage of the ascent. The video then cut out completely - with SpaceX confirming the rocket had been lost just moments later. - http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=4394

  5. Plume by everphilski · · Score: 4, Informative

    There was a plume coming out the side of the rocket in the last few frames of the SpaceX feed, normal to the body of the rocket - not the direction of flight. Most likely due to an engine/turbopump failure. This could possibly cause adverse roll/pitching. It looks like a physical problem; I doubt it was a guidance problem.

  6. Video URL by antdude · · Score: 4, Informative

    2.3 MB WMV.

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  7. Ariane 5 by JonBuck · · Score: 5, Informative
    Consider for a moment the failure of Ariane 5's maiden flight in 1996.

    Aboard Ariane 5 was Cluster -- a $500 million set of four identical scientific satellites that were designed to to establish precisely how the Earth's magnetic field interacts with solar winds.

    The unmanned rocket was on its first voyage after years of intense development by some of Europe's leading scientists. The explosion was a setback for Arianespace, whose previous models of the Ariane rocket had been some of the most reliable vehicles for satellite launches.

    The European Space Agency estimated that total development of Ariane 5 cost more than $8 billion.


    Maiden flights are perilous things. They got a full minute of flight data that they didn't have before. I'm sure the next one will be a success.
  8. A launch a day keeps the high costs away by Baldrson · · Score: 5, Informative
    One of the things that John Carmack does correctly is lots of small flights with the possibility to scale upon success. John Walker wrote a paper about this approach (restricted to expendables) called "A Rocket a Day Keeps the High Costs Away". It's good advice. It's too bad more people (to be fair, such as John Walker himself) don't take it to heart.

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