Launch Pad Explosion during Static Test Fire - Sept 1 2016

[hockeythug]

Lox storage tank is still there next to the pad

 

[glhs272]

Was this a previously launched rocket?

No.

 

[mediocreguy]

SpaceX says lost rocket and payload - Ugh... Really bad...

 

[DJ Frustration]

Loss of payload and rocket confirmed by SpaceX.

Spaceflight Now on Twitter

 

[cronosx]

Payload lost.. a really bad thing.. the insurance it's going up surely

 

[NigelM]

 

[mediocreguy]

Elon's not going to be working on v8.0 release details today...

 

[dpeilow]

Chris B - NSF on Twitter

SpaceX confirm Amos-6 was aboard the Falcon 9 and was lost in the explosion.

Thought so

 

[cronosx]

"An anomaly on the pad", so it's not the falcon 9 that had the problem, it's not so bad as it could be ( if we can say that.. )

 

[Ulmo]

SpaceX says lost rocket and payload - Ugh... Really bad...

Oh no. They loaded it already? Maybe rethink that for future launches. Although they do test the engines themselves.

 

[glhs272]

"An anomaly on the pad", so it's not the falcon 9 that had the problem, it's not so bad as it could be ( if we can say that.. )

We don't know it was not the Falcon9. They are just saying it blew up on the pad, not in flight. Apparently around -3:00 before ignition.

 

[Pale_Rider]

"An anomaly on the pad", so it's not the falcon 9 that had the problem, it's not so bad as it could be ( if we can say that.. )

"Anomaly on the pad" does not rule out an issue with the vehicle...

 

[malcolm]

*sugar* happens. Dammit.

SpaceX statement

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrRpMHzVUAAEADo.jpg:large

 

[cronosx]

You are right of course.

 

[xmetal]

That's really unfortunate. I didn't know they would have actual payload on board for test firings. That seems odd to me, but I'm not a rocket scientist. I can only imagine the feeling if you worked on all that and had it go up in flames.

 

[Nikxice]

Hope the problem can be quickly determined. Be a shame to lose the rest of the 2017 launch schedule. Seems possibly related to the first stage booster, a different failure from that experienced with the second stage on CRS-7. At least all of the the pieces should be in the vicinity of the launch pad. One silver lining might be if the failure does center on one or more of the nine Merlin engines, it's better to it fix now, not when there's 27 of them on the pad.

 

[glhs272]

Definitely a setback. They were already under a lot of pressure on schedule. This blows that up. (sorry for the bad pun). Remains to be seen how bad the damage is to the pad, but that might a real big problem. The last stand down was 6 months, this might be longer if the pad is severely damaged. Pad 39A is not ready. My optimistic schedule for that would have been around the end of the year. Now.. who knows. They may have to stop work on it to concentrate on what's going on at SLC40. If the problem is just the pad and not the rocket, they might still be able to fly a few missions from Vandenberg yet this year.

 

[Ulmo]

Elon's not going to be working on v8.0 release details today...

Why not? A rocket exploded. It happens. There's already plans in place to deal with it. He has to smooth out some of the edges, but for the most part he's probably going to be twiddling his thumbs, so might as well work on the V8 description.

 

[McRat]

Prediction: High pressure turbopump failure.

 

[dpeilow]

The satellite was to be doing this.

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