I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm relatively sure that launching pads shouldn't look like bomb craters after the rocket takes off
@thomasfuchs That'll buff out ...
@thomasfuchs These people should not be taken seriously, because they sure as hell don't take their work seriously.
@thomasfuchs “Good news: We have finally perfected reusable rockets!” “Ok, what’s the bad news?” “Well, ummm…”
(Is that real??? Part of me wants to say “surely that’s some factory on Ukraine, not a SpaceX launch site?”, but another part of me is “Yeah well, of course. Twitter guy runs SpaceX as well, this is kinda obvious given his recent track record…”j
@thomasfuchs Did he confuse SpaceX and Boring company? Cause it's believable he did.
@thomasfuchs
It's almost like there needs to be *something* there to counter the thrust vector, whose magnitude is measured in meganewtons, MN. Maybe something to spread that force out laterally? Or maybe add a dense liquid of some sort? It looks like they parked a rocket over a concrete garage and called it a day! It's embarrassing, TBH.
@thomasfuchs I'm going to take this as a sign that the Elon Handlers at SpaceX are no longer effective at protecting him from his own decisions.
@thomasfuchs they call that the money pit
@thomasfuchs hmm that's not right
confused cat voice: why is it empty
@thomasfuchs I dunno, Isn't that what Musk is good at just now? Spending fortunes to put massive craters in things? (like twitter revenue... 😀 )
@thomasfuchs Best part is, one eventual goal for the reusable system is it can launch another one within an hour of the last one leaving. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When you drop a decimal place.
@thomasfuchs
Maybe they thought they'd have time to rebuild the pad while they were redesigning the rocket.
@thomasfuchs When you're going to have to demolish the pad anyway, I guess this gets you a head start?
@thomasfuchs that's weird because Muck isn't a rocket scientist either but he told rocket scientists to to put in flame diverter channels
@thomasfuchs "looking into this"
@thomasfuchs at this point it would make more sense if Mr rocket scientist was a spy out to destroy the US from the inside, otherwise he just looks like a complete moron across the board.
@thomasfuchs we had disposable rockets and reusable pads and now we reusable rockets but disposable pads...
@thomasfuchs Just think of all the costs they saved on excavating. They thought the concrete was going to be strong enough, but... They have a water cooled steel plate system being made. It wasn't ready yet.
@thomasfuchs It's a new technique to be used by Musk's "Boring Company" to build tunnels.
@thomasfuchs Wait a minute! I was literally just watching this clip from ABCNews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ED1uMtAFE where the lady explains that they blew it up specifically in order to be able to use the launch pad quickly. You mean to say that they failed at that too? I am shocked. Shocked! (that clip is hilarious BTW very worth watching)
@thomasfuchs Jesus fucking hell
@thomasfuchs My only guess as to why they didn't install a flame diverter is this is only for development. They are probably working out the kinks on land before they launch from one of the two oil rigs they bought. Launching from international waters means no regulations.
@thomasfuchs I read John Clark's book _Ignition!_, but I thought the rockets with the HF exhaust where just for missiles
@thomasfuchs
Where is this from? I need more context before I assume what I'm assuming.
@thomasfuchs success!!!!
@thomasfuchs Nah, it'll be fine.
@thomasfuchs It was like that when we hired it….
@thomasfuchs so much for the "land the booster and relaunch it after a quick refill again" plans.
@thomasfuchs The Elon apparently posted before the launch that not using a blast diverter "might be a mistake." So likely: (1) The Elon demanded no diverter because there won't be one on Mars; (2) engineers told him the pad and parts of the rocket would be ripped apart by the blast; (3) The Elon put on his I'm-going-to-fire-someone face; (4) no diverter; (5) as the day approached, The Elon realized that maybe his engineers were right and it might be fun to save face by firing them.
And Elmo was just hoping the rocket would at least lift off and not destroy the launch pad.
Kinda shows that while rockets are supposed to be controlled explosions, it does not always work as expected.
@thomasfuchs great picture. What is the source please?
@thomasfuchs pretty sure Elmo said reusable rockets not reusable launch pads...
@thomasfuchs
Also known in the rocket industry as, 'lots of data'.
@minorusaba
@thomasfuchs What's the scale of that image‽
Oh, I wasn't aware of a Hyperloop¹ project in Texas.
Anyway this one seems at a better point than the others: at least in Texas they started to dig.
~~
@thomasfuchs Wait, didn't they say "we consider it a success as long as the launchpad isn't destroyed"?
@thomasfuchs The #EverydayAstronaut and crew was 5 miles away and had to get under a roof, they were getting sand from that launch pad coming down like rain.
@thomasfuchs "They just decided to ignore the need for flame trenches for a rocket that size; to see if they can get away with it" why does that sound like maybe they have an idiot CEO who has no concept of what's a good idea and therefore tries anything to see what sticks?
@thomasfuchs …………oops.
@thomasfuchs looks like force distribution was not exactly as anticipated. This isn’t a science problem, though — it’s an engineering one (or possibly machining one).
@thomasfuchs parts of the rocket like the engines are a marvel, but some decisions like not building a flame diverter are extremely dumb.
Also the whole catching arms for landing idea instead of legs is too risky imo.
@thomasfuchs Usually only when things explode.
@thomasfuchs but that’s an #Elon crater so a GREAT success !!! In fact #PPForPM wants Cdns to invest in Elon’s 2nd rocket ship cause the first such was a spectacularly explosive success. And #PP wants Canada in on the #SpaceRace b/c #Musk is a genius, like his wildly rich spouse #AnaPoilievre. #CdnMedia oh look, belly lint.
@thomasfuchs Sometimes, even rocket science ain’t rocket science.
Agile software development applied to rockets. Launch a prototype and see what sticks. Also mimicking IT by proclaiming every “project” a success no matter how disastrous and far from its original metrics for success. Rescope! Launch a follow-on project! The money is endless and unquestioned.
@thomasfuchs Maybe they can try putting some rice on it, then letting rest for the night.
@thomasfuchs
Does not look like rapid reusability. And it is even more amazing that the rocket even left the pad.
@thomasfuchs
Did a Tesla explode there?
Thank you, first Ive heard of, though I have been seeing coverage for days, news system isnt very good in America.
@thomasfuchs musk is busy
@thomasfuchs Been there, done that, singed the t-shirt. Not quite that scale, but neither was my rocket.
@thomasfuchs I was thinking that they must have known it would blow chunks (of concrete) and that some of them would be knocking on the hardware (my pet theory for the engine-rich exhaust and subsequent failures).
Perhaps it was the cheapest (hah!) way of seeing what might happen during take-off from planet surface with no launch pad?
@thomasfuchs I saw someone call this hole "Crater McCraterface" and I just about died.
@thomasfuchs @CrazyMyra ‘Return Hands to Steering Handle” flashed up on controllers’ screens, moments before grift-off.
@thomasfuchs "We've solved the reusable rocket problem, but the infrastructure used to launch is no longer reusable. Also, the rocket isn't usable at all" pretty much sums up corporate America, though.
the history of rocket science is a history of experiments that blow up
@thomasfuchs Elon's a genius! Why build a flame trench when you can just make the rocket dig one? :D~