SpaceX's 60's designer rocket falls over in wind

[mr moose]

So that tin foil looking rocket that could have easily been out of a 1960's space magazine for kids apparently fell over in the wind.

 

It kinda makes me wonder what they were thinking when they designed it and what they hope the general public will think, but according to the verge spaceships were meant to fly not fall.
 

Quote

A prototype of SpaceX’s next big rocket fell over and sustained damage in south Texas, thanks to high winds in the area. Images from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas show part of the vehicle sideways on the ground and slightly crumpled.

 

 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/23/18194398/spacex-starship-prototype-wind-damage-boca-chica-texas

 

I know next to bugger all about space ships, but it does concern me that if it can fall over in wind then how stable/accurate is it with enough thrust under it to put it in orbit?

 

Anyway, I look forward to the commentary.

[sazrocks]

On 1/11/2019 at 2:24 PM, sazrocks said:

This is not Starship. This is the starship version of Grasshopper (many call it "starhopper"). This will not fly higher than a few km and is certainly not spaceworthy.

 

The design has plenty of time to change (we already know that starhopper is shorter than Starship will be). For reference, this is the grasshopper prototype vs a finished falcon 9:

  Reveal hidden contents

Starship is also only the second stage of the rocket; Super Heavy is the booster and is much taller than even the finished Starship, making the final rocket taller than the Saturn V.

From what I've heard it was also only the top half that fell; its possible not all of the connections between each half was in place yet.

[SorcierX]

Is it just me or does the one laying on the ground look NOTHING like the one in the pictures of it? way too thin, white not silver.

[79wjd]

 

15 minutes ago, mr moose said:

spaceships were meant to fly not fall.

That doesn't sound right to me, I think we need to call a rocket scientist to confirm.

 

[DildorTheDecent]

F

[Imbellis]

13 minutes ago, SorcierX said:

Is it just me or does the one laying on the ground look NOTHING like the one in the pictures of it? way too thin, white not silver.

That's the reflection off of the aluminum or possible a tarp over it.

 

It falling over in the wind doesn't really relate to how stable it would be while launching. Hell, if you look at the Saturn 5, It'd fall over with mild wind if it wasn't anchored to the tower(s).

[emosun]

32 minutes ago, mr moose said:

it does concern me that if it can fall over in wind then how stable/accurate is it with enough thrust under it to put it in orbit

yeah if a house blows away in a hurricane surely it can't be used as a house then

[TempestCatto]

35 minutes ago, mr moose said:

I know next to bugger all about space ships, but it does concern me that if it can fall over in wind then how stable/accurate is it with enough thrust under it to put it in orbit?

To my knowledge, that rocket was just for testing the new engines. So they kinda just threw together some form of space craft. So in otherwords, that rocket is not at all final design, nor was it even considered for it.

[mr moose]

22 minutes ago, Imbellis said:

That's the reflection off of the aluminum or possible a tarp over it.

 

It falling over in the wind doesn't really relate to how stable it would be while launching. Hell, if you look at the Saturn 5, It'd fall over with mild wind if it wasn't anchored to the tower(s).

then why didn't hey anchor it? it's like leaving your washing on the line, nah it won't rain today she'll be right...

13 minutes ago, emosun said:

yeah if a house blows away in a hurricane surely it can't be used as a house then

I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a house that is being blown away by a hurricane either.  Although I think your on to something,  SpaceX could save themselves a lot of fuel money if they use this wind power instead of rockets.

[emosun]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a house that is being blown away by a hurricane either.  Although I think your on to something,  SpaceX could save themselves a lot of fuel money if they use this wind power instead of rockets.

yeah , why have glass windows if i can break them with a rock

[mr moose]

Just now, emosun said:

yeah , why have glass windows if i can break them with a rock

I think you might be being a little too serious about this.

 

It's a pretty stereotypical cartoon rocket that fell over. 

[Taf the Ghost]

If it was unloaded, then it was really just a mostly empty frame in high winds. While not a great look, the math would work out if the wind storm was bad enough. 

[Taf the Ghost]

5 minutes ago, mr moose said:

I think you might be being a little too serious about this.

 

It's a pretty stereotypical cartoon rocket that fell over. 

Elon is going to have to absorb some Marvin the Martian jokes for a bit.

[Fnige]

 

[bcredeur97]

I mean judging by how windy it was here today in the neighboring state due to a cold front moving through, i'd say it's logical that this would of happened... why'd they bring that thing outside during this weather?

[Taf the Ghost]

Just now, bcredeur97 said:

I mean judging by how windy it was here today in the neighboring state due to a cold front moving through, i'd say it's logical that this would of happened... why'd they bring that thing outside during this weather?

Depends on the stage of fabrication it was at. A rare high-wind event will take down construction projects, if they hadn't loaded anything more than the scaffolding within it, it was really light relative to the surface area it presented.

[givingtnt]

1 hour ago, mr moose said:

So that tin foil looking rocket that could have easily been out of a 1960's space magazine for kids apparently fell over in the wind.

 

 

This thing was likely a hopper, not ment for space.

 

[Opencircuit74]

2 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

This thing was likely a hopper, not ment for space.

 

They did the same thing with the Falcon 9, I do believe it is a hopper meant for low altitudes and to practice landings. I just can't wait to see it when it's going to space.

[mxk]

Like Charlie Brown losing his kite.

[Bananasplit_00]

Well it wasn't aimed for space anyway, just hopping around. 

 

It was likely unloaded which would make it pretty mush just a big sail in the wind, its just empty sections of sheet metal with a bit of structural reinforcement

[kuddlesworth9419]

Probably for the best.

[GDRRiley]

4 hours ago, mr moose said:

then why didn't hey anchor it? it's like leaving your washing on the line, nah it won't rain today she'll be right...

they did, the lines broke off at 50 or 60 MPH gusts. 

[ATFink]

4 hours ago, SlimyPython said:

 

JESUS CHRIST! If there was ever a need for a "headphone users beware" warning this was the time to use it! My ears are freaking BLEEDING!

[Fnige]

3 minutes ago, ATFink said:

JESUS CHRIST! If there was ever a need for a "headphone users beware" warning this was the time to use it! My ears are freaking BLEEDING!

Use antibiotics, your ears may be infected

[Salv8 (sam)]