X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates

An anonymous reader writes "Remember the 21-foot X-Wing with four rocket engines? It launched yesterday from Plaster City and here's the video showing what many thought inevitable: total destruction in mid-air. From the post: "I can only say two things. The first is: absolutely amazing. And the second: poor Porkins." "

Comments

A shame, but it happens.

[nincehelser]

But shreds are not uncommon in high power rocketry.

I'm sure they'll learn from the failure and build another one until they get it right.

That's pretty much the whole point of the hobby. If you don't have the occasional spectacular failure, you're probably not innovating enough.

Re:I'm not surprised

[teslar]

I've often been amazed how bad the aerodynamics of Science Fiction are. The X wing is a pretty good example, with those huge laser weapons on the ends of the wings that guarantee flutter problems in the wings. I also find it hilarious that the leading edges of the wings are flat.

I would have thought that, for obvious reasons, aerodynamics are not a big issue when designing a spacecraft...