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2019-11-21 Science & Technology
SpaceX MK-1 EXPLODES while being pressure tested


From the Facebook SpaceX Boca Chica group, the Moderator reports:
RUPTURE UPDATE:
Through back channels it has been revealed that MK1 suffered an accidental overpressure to failure. Fuel and oxidizer would typically be loaded to 3 Bar or 43.5 psi~ for densification purposes and flightworthy tanks may be tested to 1.5-2x that value for single time structural proofing. In the case of what happened today the story is that communications errors between the pumps/sensors and remote controls allowed the tanks to be massively and erroneously overpressured to the point of failure, leading to catastrophic rupture.

We expect SpaceX in good time to reveal the details, they may explain it was deliberate as big changes in airframe and control surfaces in the succeeding MK series variants are coming.
Posted by 3dc 2019-11-21 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ]  Top

#1 So was it RUD or RSD? :-)
Posted by gorb 2019-11-21 06:57||   2019-11-21 06:57|| Front Page Top

#2 And here, boys and girls, we have an example of why it is NOT a good idea to cut testing time to meet an unrealistic implementation date.
Posted by AlanC 2019-11-21 07:40||   2019-11-21 07:40|| Front Page Top

#3 It does appear the body stayed in one piece.
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-11-21 08:27||   2019-11-21 08:27|| Front Page Top

#4 
Posted by Bright Pebbles 2019-11-21 08:38||   2019-11-21 08:38|| Front Page Top

#5 Beeg, bada boom!
Posted by Skidmark 2019-11-21 09:49||   2019-11-21 09:49|| Front Page Top

#6 "Hey Bob, close that red valve over there!"
"Hang on a sec. I'm nuking my soup."
*BOOM*
"Please tell me that was the microwave..."
Posted by SteveS 2019-11-21 09:51||   2019-11-21 09:51|| Front Page Top

#7 Desaparecido en la boca [de la] chica? Qual chica?
Posted by Lex 2019-11-21 10:08||   2019-11-21 10:08|| Front Page Top

#8 This is why you test.
Posted by Iblis 2019-11-21 12:25||   2019-11-21 12:25|| Front Page Top

#9 They didn't have one of those little jiggly weight things like I have on my pressure cooker?
Posted by Glenmore 2019-11-21 13:20||   2019-11-21 13:20|| Front Page Top

#10 today the story is that communications errors between the pumps/sensors and remote controls

Outsourcing without conversion normalization, imperial and metric. I've seen it a few times.

Mars Probe Lost Due to Simple Math Error
Posted by Skidmark 2019-11-21 13:50||   2019-11-21 13:50|| Front Page Top

#11 "I said pascals!!"

"What's a pascal?"
Posted by KBK 2019-11-21 22:19||   2019-11-21 22:19|| Front Page Top

14:34 Frank G
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