Wednesday, July 17, 2019

DON'T BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO MARS ON SPACEX JUST YET...

By Loren Grush
From The Verge
Photos by LabPadre in cooperation with BocaChicaMaria1

A prototype version of SpaceX’s next-generation rocket caught fire last night following an engine test in Boca Chica, Texas. About four minutes after SpaceX briefly ignited the vehicle’s engine, a second small explosion engulfed the rocket in flames for a few seconds - seemingly by accident.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but the incident may postpone the first big flight of the vehicle.

The hardware that caught on fire is the test model of SpaceX’s next big rocket, the Starship: a massive spacecraft the company is developing to take people and cargo into deep space. SpaceX is building multiple versions of the rocket at the company’s test facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and Boca Chica. These vehicles are meant to try out the Starship design and eventually test its capabilities in space.

The test rocket in Boca Chica is tasked with showing off the prowess of SpaceX’s new engine, the Raptor, which was developed specifically for Starship.

 Equipped with one Raptor engine on its underside, the test vehicle is set to perform a series of “hop” tests in the weeks and months ahead. During these events, the vehicle’s engine will ignite, taking the rocket up to an altitude high above the Earth. It’ll hover there for a period of time before using its engine to land back on the ground. It’s all meant to test the vehicle’s capability to launch from and land on Earth — as well as other planets.
The test vehicle, nicknamed Starhopper, has already seen a little bit of action. In April, SpaceX ignited a Raptor engine underneath the rocket for the first time. During that test the vehicle was tethered to the ground during that ignition and subsequent firings, so the rocket hasn’t seen any air yet.

SpaceX had been planning to perform the first hop test this week. Last night, ahead of the hop, SpaceX ignited the Raptor engine briefly while Starhopper was constrained, to see if the hardware was ready. But just moments after a seemingly successful ignition, the rocket lit up again in a fireball and had to be doused.

SpaceX did not confirm whether or not the second explosion was indeed an accident, but according to locals, there are no more closures planned around the company's site. That indicates testing is no longer scheduled for the rest of the week. Photos of Starhopper taken this morning show seemingly minimal damage to the vehicle.
Tor read the rest of the story, click on link:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/17/20697603/spacex-starship-starhopper-raptor-engine-static-fire-test-explosion

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Oh No, I brought my ticket for SpaceX rocket on the lay a way plan with food stamps. Can I get a refund to get my daily beer medicine.

Anonymous said...

Does that mean that boca chica is out of limits for this summer? If it were a bigger explosion would it wipe out the port? ha ha ha ha...

FERNY said...

SPACE X IS A BIG JOKE !!
WE WANT OUR BEACH BACK.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE ROCKETS LAND ON FIRE IN BROWNSVILLE .

Anonymous said...

Karma from RGV to the greedy musk

Anonymous said...

Book your ticket to move out of that area at least a 15 mile radius(maybe more) and charge it to the city. Oh what a novel idea a launching pad now you know how dangerous this really is. Thank your elected officials and remember LNG is coming cover your face.

Anonymous said...

The racist republicans want to put all illegals in one of those rockets that explodes so the hillbillies will vote for them.

Anonymous said...

Elon Musk fucks with Brownsville again. It's smoke & mirrors, Montoya. smh

Anonymous said...

Rio Grande Guardian - July 12, 2019

Brownsville can capitalize on $1 trillion ‘new space’ economy

Brownsville is heading along the right path at the right time to capitalize of the explosive growth in the ‘new space’ economy. This is the view of Sidney Nakahodo, co-founder and CEO of New York Space Alliance. Nakahodo was one of a number of VIP speakers at the launch of the Expanding Frontiers nonprofit.

The event took place at the historical Pan American building at Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport. The new nonprofit has been formed by Dr. Rick Jenet of UT-Rio Grande Valley and the City of Brownsville, to help spur economic activity in Space commercialization and exploration. One of the speakers at the event, Sean Casey of Silicon Valley Space Center, predicted the ‘new space’ economy would grow from $350 billion to $1 trillion in a very amount of time.

Anonymous said...

Well Nakahodo at least got the "explosive" part right...

Anonymous said...

Collateral damage is never discussed and the "idea" is always offered by some stupid professor that doesn't live here or has never lived here and if they do they live in a government funded home and out in the country.

Anonymous said...

People wake up! SPACE X is a scam! Can anyone name a local person that actually works there? The ghetto prototype rocket that fell because of the wind was hilarious! No successful rocket flights will ever be launched there, "mark my words"!. The Mayor and commissioners sold their soul on this bullshit endeavor.

Anonymous said...

If you live between the rocket explosion site and the chemical plants which will be built soon your next generation sibling can apply at the carnivals as ... at least they'll be employed.

Anonymous said...

juan se quemaron los hot dogs y los marsh mellows lol

Anonymous said...

"Oh its just a LITTLE heat", WHAT? you could see the flames 15 miles away oh its just a little heat, good luck citizens...

Anonymous said...

If its about making money chicles is a multibillion industry so is uberpreneur lending out your bike (sic) for a fee, Consumer products and services to name just a few and they are enviromental friendly. Why bring exploding and volatile businesses and dangerous chemical plants here? We need to kick out all elected officials and start new, specially the elected officials at the port with their cronies.

Anonymous said...

If a rocket crashes into a pressurized gas LNG facility, that will be the end of the Port. It will be a nuclear size explosion.

But the greedy Lucios could only see $$$ selling out to the Republicans, the fossil fuel industry, and he doesn't even represent Brownsville. Come on Harlingen, get someone to run against greedy mofos

Anonymous said...

Where is waste management companies we need them down here, poultry and excavating companies, UTI energy companies, cosmetics companies are great at generating explosions.

You, elected officials google most dangerous companies to work for and bring them ALL here simple...

Anonymous said...

No wonder its call spaceX.

rita