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SpaceX Rocket Engine Explodes During Test (space.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the qualification-test dept.

According to The Washington Post, a SpaceX rocket engine exploded Sunday (Nov. 5) at the company's test facility in McGregor, Texas. The explosion reportedly occurred during a "qualification test" of a Merlin engine, the type that powers SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. Space.com reports: SpaceX has suspended engine testing while it investigates what caused the incident, which didn't injure anyone, the Post added. In a statement provided to the Post, SpaceX representatives said they didn't expect the explosion to affect the company's launch schedule. That schedule has been pretty packed this year. SpaceX has already launched 16 missions, all of them successful, in 2017 -- twice as many as its previous high in a calendar year. And all but three of these missions also involved landings of the Falcon 9 first stage, for eventual refurbishment and reuse.

7 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Well.. by fluffernutter · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm no Musk fan, but what's why you test?

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re:Well.. by TheReaperD · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yea, I'm not sure why this is news. They did a test and it failed with no injuries because they did the test safely. Other than some acceptable losses and likely the loss of the engine, there was no harm. This is why you test things like this.

      --
      "Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
  2. Re:Well by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That’s what happens when you cut corners and half ass things to make things cheaper.

    Launch costs need to be cheaper. The trick is to figure out which corners can be cut, and which can not. Engineers learn by trying and failing, and I am sure SpaceX learned some valuable lessons today.

    "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett

  3. Re: Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No, then they wouldn't test at all.

    My reaction to this is more like:

    Yeah so, this is why they test.

  4. Re: Well by Type44Q · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, not quite; more like "this is why we have tests."

  5. Re: Merlins engines powered the Spitfires by Type44Q · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Flattery's an insult? You must've read 1984.

  6. Re:Merlins engines powered the Spitfires by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    amazing how you have invented up new ways of being offended.