Re:SpaceX returns to flight with Falcon 9 rocket launch
by JshWright on Saturday January 14, 2017 @05:36PM
(#13400990)
'Unexpected' failures during testing is why testing is done...
The strut failure is consistent with the data, and the accepted conclusion of the report.
They are modifying their procedure because their prop loading procedure was _very_ aggressive (pumping liquid helium into the COPV and allowing it vaporize, absorbing more heat from the environment, resulting in the formation of solid oxygen). They exceeded the tolerances of the COPV, and paid for it. In the future their designs will account for the lower temperatures. Until then, switching to the more conservative prop loading method addresses the issue.
The strut failure is consistent with the data, and the accepted conclusion of the report.
They are modifying their procedure because their prop loading procedure was _very_ aggressive (pumping liquid helium into the COPV and allowing it vaporize, absorbing more heat from the environment, resulting in the formation of solid oxygen). They exceeded the tolerances of the COPV, and paid for it. In the future their designs will account for the lower temperatures. Until then, switching to the more conservative prop loading method addresses the issue.