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Re:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral by mikeash on Friday September 02, 2016 @12:02AM (#12410753)
Apollo 13 also came a few seconds away from blowing up during launch. The second stage center engine began a pogo oscillation that at its peak was vibrating the engine at 16Hz with an amplitude of about three inches. By luck, the intense vibration tripped a fuel sensor and caused the computer to shut the engine down just before it would have ripped the whole thing to pieces.
Re:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral by WalterBright on Friday September 02, 2016 @03:01AM (#12411399)
As an engineer, I am utterly astounded that the Apollo launches were so successful. Nobody had bigger balls than the astronauts who got in them.
Re:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral by jnbiche on Friday September 02, 2016 @06:36AM (#12412095)
> Nobody had bigger balls than the astronauts who got in them.

Yeah, they were really outsize personalities in every way (in a good way). Very unique time in American history.

Re:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral by flukus on Friday September 02, 2016 @01:18AM (#12411001)
But it was all smooth sailing for Apollo 13 after that, right?