The Falcon Has Landed…and Spectacularly Fallen. Watch Elon Musk’s Video!
After a successful launch yesterday of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the rocket landed in one piece, as hoped…but then tumbled over and broke followed by a spectacular ball of fire. Watch video below. An epic failure some would think…but one which Musk is sure to say is […]
After a successful launch yesterday of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the rocket landed in one piece, as hoped…but then tumbled over and broke followed by a spectacular ball of fire. Watch video below.
An epic failure some would think…but one which Musk is sure to say is the beginning of great things to come (being a firm believer in failure just showing you’re attempting great innovation).
The South African entrepreneur explained what happened in a series of tweets. Soon after takeoff he revealed a hard landing was likely as a landing leg was broken.
Post-landing, he tweeted: “Falcon lands on droneship, but the lockout collet doesn’t latch on one the four legs, causing it to tip over post landing. Root cause may have been ice buildup due to condensation from heavy fog at liftoff.”
Watch Video of SpaceX rocket landing…and toppling over:
One of the most important aims of the mission did go according to plan – the #Jason3 spacecraft was successfully deployed during orbit, and is now flying free where it will capture high resolution photos of the ocean to be used for climate change research.
After three failed attempts to land at sea (and one very successful landing on land), Musk tweeted last night that “Definitely harder to land on a ship. Similar to an aircraft carrier vs land: much smaller target area, that’s also translating & rotating.
“However, that was not what prevented it being good. Touchdown speed was ok, but a leg lockout didn’t latch, so it tipped over after landing.”
He later posted a photo of the debris (see below), saying: “Well, at least the pieces were bigger this time! Won’t be last RUD, but am optimistic about upcoming ship landing.”
His subsequent tweets were more scientific musings about ship landings, high velocity missions and altitude distance.
Elon Musk on Twitter…
Well, at least the pieces were bigger this time! Won’t be last RUD, but am optimistic about upcoming ship landing. pic.twitter.com/w007TccANJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2016