@PHRoG@rockblossom The success/fail criteria was based on when the rocket disassembled. It was officially a success when it cleared the tower. It got bonus points for making it past max-Q, to the start of MECO.
But have you seen some of the analysis of the damage to the launch/ground systems? That seems like an unforced error. Especially one that they should have wanted to avoid considering how fast they can interate the actual vehicles.
I mean. I will admit it possible they underdesigned too early on, decided it was all going to have to be scrapped anyway, and just decided they might as well trash it for the test data. But it seems like they didn’t mean to considering all the finishing work they put in at the end on the outer panels. IDK. They have been getting the deluge system/parts in for a while. Maybe they couldn’t build in the thrust deflector etc and have everything set to rebuild it asap.
An expert view:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/04/so-what-was-that-was-starships-launch-a-failure-or-a-success/
PS, it didn’t explode, it performed a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”
@PHRoG We meant it to do that!
@PHRoG @rockblossom The success/fail criteria was based on when the rocket disassembled. It was officially a success when it cleared the tower. It got bonus points for making it past max-Q, to the start of MECO.
@hamjudo @rockblossom right, I wasn’t claiming it wasn’t a success. I’m fully aware that blowing shit up is a big part of rocket development.
I just think the technical definition of when something does blow up is hilarious.
@hamjudo @PHRoG @rockblossom Yes, RUD is a longstanding rocketry term.
Lithobraking is another amusing one.
@blaineg @hamjudo @PHRoG @rockblossom It totally reminds me of Peewee Herman:
/youtube Pee Wee Herman: “I meant to do that!”
But have you seen some of the analysis of the damage to the launch/ground systems? That seems like an unforced error. Especially one that they should have wanted to avoid considering how fast they can interate the actual vehicles.
I mean. I will admit it possible they underdesigned too early on, decided it was all going to have to be scrapped anyway, and just decided they might as well trash it for the test data. But it seems like they didn’t mean to considering all the finishing work they put in at the end on the outer panels. IDK. They have been getting the deluge system/parts in for a while. Maybe they couldn’t build in the thrust deflector etc and have everything set to rebuild it asap.