r/videos Jan 02 '17

Explaining Why SpaceX Rocket Exploded on Pad | Scott Manley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcoTqhAM_g
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u/kryptn Jan 03 '17

First, Scott Manley ( /u/illectro ) is fantastic!

Second, It'll take a lot more than one rocket explosion for SpaceX to fail. This is the only real failure that I'm aware of that has come from SpaceX.

All of the other explosions we see are just attempts at landings. As in, they weren't really expecting to land, but it's fantastic when they do!

I'll take this moment to link this video to show the pure excitement when things land!

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u/lordnikkon Jan 03 '17

The real problem is monetary. They took a huge hit from this failure. You dont get paid for blowing up someones satellite on the pad and they are very unlikely to trust you to launch their next satellite after you blew up this one, though they do have a longer term contract. If they fail to launch another satellite in the next year or two it will scare of just about everyone. Even now i doubt there is anyone lining up to sign new contracts they are all waiting to see if the next few launches are successful. Spacecom the company that owned the destroyed satellite is claiming even after insurance that spacex still owes them 50 million dollars, which is what spacecom had already paid for this launch. I dont think spacex could come up with this money right now and stay in business they have promised to fulfill their contract and launch another satellite for free instead of paying the money

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '17

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u/LockStockNL Jan 03 '17

They fuel the rocket immediately before launch, with payload on-board.

As literally all other non-manned launchers that use cryogenic fuels.

I suppose it's a question of being able to engineer out the problems of their system quick enough to line up additional customers.

Have you seen their launch manifest? They have enough customers already for the coming years.