Lunar Lander Challenge Ends in Fire, Disappoinment

mikesd81 writes "The rocketeers at Armadillo Aerospace, thwarted by engine problems and other mechanical failures, left this year's X Prize Cup empty-handed after their spacecraft burst into flames on liftoff Sunday. An attempt on Sunday to hop from launch and landing pads ended with the MOD craft bursting in flames shortly after engine ignition. This is the team's second attempt at the challenge in New Mexico, they were the only entrant in last year's event, which they also lost. Brett Alexander, Executive Director of Space Prizes and the X Prize Cup relayed a comment from John Carmack, leader of the Armadillo team: "Today is officially a bad day when it comes to our vehicle." The last attempt to win the $350,000 Level 1 prize on Sunday ended when the MOD vehicle had an engine fire, with pieces coming off, including disconnected cabling. Clearly, there was a fire on the pad that burned for a while — but then went out. The Armadillo team called a safety emergency, requesting fire truck assistance, Alexander said."

Comments

Bright side

[Anonymous Coward]

He didn't destroy a spacecraft...he..um...simulated a real life BFG 10K.

Congrats anyway.

[Rob T Firefly]

A fire on the launch pad is still a hell of a lot further than most of us have gone.

Again?

[sm62704]

Again?? Damn.

OTOH, at least George Broussard isn't on the team, or we'd have "The rocketeers at Armadillo Aerospace 4ever"

It seems Armadillo is DOOMed. OW! OW! STOP HITTING ME!!

-mcgrew

Parts is parts.

[UncHellMatt]

Afterward, Brett Alexander was heard to lament "Perhaps using those parts from my mom's old Pinto wasn't the best idea..."

Frankenstein was heard to comment

[CRCulver]

Frankenstein, on hand to witness the event, was heard to comment "Fire...burn!"

Re:Points to make

[Anonymous Coward]

Give Carmack the credit for being the genius that he is.

uhh this is /., everyone here gives Carmack his due props. and im not saying anything bad about the guy but as ive been saying for the past few months, i think he was overly zealous in regards to implementing quad damage as such a early stage in development.

"Officially a bad day..."

[WED Fan]

I've checked with the league and while there are qualifications to rate this as a bad day, the league still has to check on several rulings.

League spokesman, Heilig Gdankazan, has cautioned members to avoid premature declarations of official calls, "We expect to be able to officially rule this as an official bad day in the near future."

Previous bad days that took league intervention were:

• The sinking of the Titanic
• The burning of the Hindenburg
• Moira Gdankazan being caught in bed with Heilig's brother, Worly
• Richard M. Stallman's 7th year bath, last occuring on October 1st, 2002, over stressing the Municipal Waste station and causing a boil water order for most of the eastern seaboard
• The Courtney Love-Curt Cobain wedding
• Britney Spears showing up without panties