Because something big doesn't happen EVERY day
Australia's first orbital launch fails, rocket destroyed
Back in March, as the first quarter of the year was coming to a close, I did an article on launches that were possibly coming before the start of April and the second quarter of the year. I had seen mention of a rocket called Eris from an Australian company called Gilmour Space. I found it interesting because I know nothing about the company or Australia's efforts to join the space age. So I started keeping an eye out for it.
As March turned into April, and April into May, there was precious little information. And then came word of a launch attempt on Thursday, May 15. Then I learned that the nose cone fell off the rocket hours before it was supposed to launch. The preparations for launch were aborted.
Back to keeping an eye out for info again. Until NextSpaceflight started reporting they were going to try to launch again "real soon now," and that eventually morphed into trying again today (local time, which I think was October 37th in Australia).
This time was worse. The vehicle lifted off the launch pad, drifted a little, while gaining virtually zero altitude, then fell to the ground. Video here. That video is over an hour long, but set to start playing 1hr: 29: 10. Launch happens quickly, but not instantly. Overall, the flight failure is reminiscent of the Astra launch in Alaska that I've considered the strangest mission abort I've ever seen.
SpaceX moves Flight Test 10 Starship to test area
Tuesday morning (today as I write) SpaceX rolled the Starship for Flight Test 10 to the launch pad for static fire testing. There isn't an announced date for this test flight, but things are falling into place for it possibly being "soon."
SpaceX has not announced a target date for Flight 10, but it could happen soon: On July 14, company founder and CEO Elon Musk said the liftoff will occur in "about three weeks." On Monday, he provided an updated, yet more vague, prediction: "next month."
As a perfunctory reminder, "next month" starts Friday. I just tend to think later in the month rather than that soon.
Flight 10's Starship rolls to the launch pad in preparation for static testing. Image Credit: SpaceX via X
As is often the case, there has been a lot of buzz going around about modifications to Starship and the SuperHeavy booster. The problem is it's hard to be sure what's really going to be flying for IFT 10. There has been talk of an entirely different heat shield covering Starship, and massive internal modifications to SuperHeavy along with the Raptor engines. Then there are aspects like a static firing of the booster for IFT 10 having been carried out at the start of June - and any static testing done before major changes to the booster is irrelevant.
I'll try to get more details.
With as quickly SpaceX moves, there's no telling what systems will be changed, updated or removed before flight.
ReplyDeleteWe'll just have to see.
I would swear I saw photos of a new downcomer tube to deliver liquids from the top tank to the engines but this morning I can't find ANYTHING. The downcomer looked to be the size of a Falcon 9. Absolutely mind blowing.
DeleteThere were a couple of YT videos showing the huge tube that I saw, so not your imagination.
DeleteUnless its the Mandela Effect again.
That downcomer tube was said to be for the next generation of SuperHeavy. I did see the video also. Big honkin' tube it was.
Deletehttps://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/1lvmojv/installing_the_redesigned_fuel_transfer_tube_into/
Deletehttps://x.com/SpaceX/status/1942975057040404843
That last link to Reddit that you posted, Jeff, is like what I remember seeing. In addition to that view, though, I recall seeing the downcomer from alongside it (or nearly) when it was horizontal. I guess some of the buzz around it made me think they're using it on this flight and not just waiting for some time in the future. After all, if they really want to make sure 10 succeeds, why not do everything they think can increase the chances of success.
DeleteThat thing looks big enough to replace the tank altogether.
Delete"What About It" covered the mega down-comer when it was first spotted.
DeleteFor Starship launch 10, I am repeating a variation of the childrens' song "I hope you can, I hope you can."
ReplyDeleteAnd you can bet that many people will be playing the 1812 Overture...
DeleteBut the canons?
DeleteNo, Bach had canons. Tchaikovsky had cannons. There is a difference...
DeleteI saw a much better, closer video of the Eris launch, it appeared that at least one of the four first stage engines failed. Maybe two, but I only saw one. Pump failure?
ReplyDeleteUpdate
DeleteI watched the YouTube video that was put out for analysis by Scott Manley, he had the better views courtesy of Gilmour Space.
One of the four motors failed a second after liftoff, causing an off-axis thrust which caused the vehicle to yaw madly. The control systems tried to do their best to fire off the attitude jets (probably hydrazine) to compensate - you could see the jets firing at 90 degrees to the x-axis at the base of the rocket - but then the engine right next to it failed also after an additional 2 seconds. It slowly sank into the ground, a little tilted - shades of the Astra launch in Alaska! The only reason everything didn't RUD (except for the rocket...) is that they are using a hybrid motor. Hydrazine is pumped into the solid motor core which is then ignited, and it therefore can be controlled or even cut off, but restarting it would be difficult...
(The motors are fixed, they do NOT move/swivel)
It made a mess, but not like what happened at Massey's when Starship blew up and took most of the test stand with it!
Lucky for them!!