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SpaceX Launch Failure Due To Timing Problem

FleaPlus writes "Private orbital spaceflight company SpaceX recently announced that last weekend's Falcon 1 rocket launch failure was caused by a collision between the first and second stage of their rocket. This was due to a timing problem, when their brand-new engine design produced residual thrust for 1.5 seconds longer than expected; they're currently working to fix the problem and launch again, perhaps as early as next month. In a recent interview with Wired, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk remarked on their efforts: "Optimism, pessimism, f-ck that; we're going to make it happen. As God is my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.""

22 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. ooohhhh by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

    Silly me. And here I was thinking it was due to a crashing problem...

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    1. Re:ooohhhh by Wiseazz · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, there was the blowing up problem, followed by the gravity problem. Then, I suppose the crashing problem might have come into play at some point.

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    2. Re:ooohhhh by Wiseazz · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Neither stage exploded," Musk said. "They just got a little bit cooked."

      Sorry - didn't rtfm. It was a cooking problem.
       

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    3. Re:ooohhhh by Loibisch · · Score: 4, Funny

      race conditions often can lead to crashes

    4. Re:ooohhhh by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

      Perhaps they need a new Chef Engineer.

      That's what they get for launching in the dessert.

      I could go on... but it's probably best if I don't.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    5. Re:ooohhhh by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

      I could go on... but it's probably best if I don't.

      Yes, I think we can all agree that your jokes were pretty tasteless.

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      This guy's the limit!
    6. Re:ooohhhh by vyruss000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, I can't stomach that guy!

    7. Re:ooohhhh by UncleTogie · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, I think we can all agree that your jokes were pretty tasteless.

      The odds that anyone would find that funny are gastronomical...

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      Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
  2. Hell-bent by adpsimpson · · Score: 4, Funny

    As God is my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.

    Something tells me that perhaps he doesn't genuinely, really believe that God is his witness... :)

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    1. Re:Hell-bent by rodney+dill · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, I know they do, my reference was to the drop of domestic birds in the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati. Someone didn't get the joke.

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    2. Re:Hell-bent by MightyYar · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe it's just God's time of month, ever think of that?

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    3. Re:Hell-bent by MightyYar · · Score: 2, Funny

      I don't even WANT to think about that. I mean, if it were true that God is Satan... all my worshiping, all of my praying, all of my sacrifice to the Dark Lord would be in vain! My last sacrifice was a whole sack of puppies! Did they die for no reason?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    4. Re:Hell-bent by Daimanta · · Score: 2, Funny

      "n flight they can reach a speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h)."

      Seriously, WTF.

      Can you imagine that?

      It's a bird, no it's a plane. No, it's a frikking wild turkey and he's coming after me, HEEEEELP!

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  3. Rockets falling to earth? by Alzheimers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Personally, I blame Newton.

    1. Re:Rockets falling to earth? by AliasTheRoot · · Score: 2, Funny

      You cannae break the laws of Physics

  4. Less Viagra? by SanderDJ · · Score: 2, Funny

    "produced residual thrust for 1.5 seconds longer than expected" Cut back on the Viagra next time?

  5. Oblig. quote: by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Would you consider that a launch problem or a design problem?"

    - Chris Knight

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    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  6. Re:I must ask by rugatero · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually it's got a million and one uses. Torgo's Thespian Powder!

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  7. Re:SpaceX is a pretty serious outfit by samkass · · Score: 5, Funny

    While I share your enthusiasm, maybe we should wait until they have at least one successful launch before holding them up as the template for success and the future of space flight. So far they're just a really, really expensive fireworks company.

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    E pluribus unum
  8. Re:SpaceX is a pretty serious outfit by drooling-dog · · Score: 4, Funny

    They've done some absolutely amazing things in the last couple of years on a budget that makes all the governments combined look pretty silly.

    I, for one, don't mind not coming back alive as long as the tickets are cheap...

  9. Father Ted, Is That You? by segedunum · · Score: 4, Funny

    Optimism, pessimism, f-ck that; we're going to make it happen. As God is my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.

    I take it he's also going to kick Bishop Brennan up the arse as well for good measure?

  10. Re:did he really say that? by Darfeld · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think he like to play hangman.

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