SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-1 MISSION GENERAL DISCUSSION

[sdsds]

Obviously not a clean shut down of engine 1, yet no fratricidal damage to the other engines. Wondering if the cowling is designed to fail in that circumstance, allowing the energetic debris to flow out and away?

[rdale]

I also thought that the first stage burned ~20 seconds longer than planned, but it might have been that the audio and video were out of sync.

An exploding turbopump could also explain that.

I think Gwynne just confirmed that, or something like it.   

What could be like an exploding turbopump that isn't?

[ugordan]

Engine one anomaly.

Anomaly and a longer burn was basically confirmed.  Implied engine out?

FWIW, engine 1 should be the upper left one in the onboard video and I noticed no venting at its supposed shutdown at announced MECO-1. All other launches had it very noticeable. Either it was left burning to compensate for something or it shut down earlier than that (my guess).

[Kabloona]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

[Jason1701]

Believe Barber-Nichols makes M1C pumps. I've heard that the M1D ones that SpaceX makes have tighter tolerances.

Could the big chunk that falls away be a nozzle?

[Chandonn]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

She said "anomaly on Engine 1", not "lost engine 1", not "turbopump explosion", and not "violent event".  All of that is pure speculation.  At this point we only know there was some sort of anomaly on engine 1.  It could be as simple as an early shutdown due to high temperatures.

[kirghizstan]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

please note that she said anomaly NOT loss of engine.

[Lee Jay]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

She said "anomaly on Engine 1", not "lost engine 1", not "turbopump explosion", and not "violent event".  All of that is pure speculation.  At this point we only know there was some sort of anomaly on engine 1.  It could be as simple as an early shutdown due to high temperatures.

Well, the video shows a lot of parts coming off too, so more than just an early shutdown.  I'm not entirely convinced that it shut down from the video alone, but it might have.

[Chris-A]

[Chandonn]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

She said "anomaly on Engine 1", not "lost engine 1", not "turbopump explosion", and not "violent event".  All of that is pure speculation.  At this point we only know there was some sort of anomaly on engine 1.  It could be as simple as an early shutdown due to high temperatures.

Well, the video shows a lot of parts coming off too, so more than just an early shutdown.  I'm not entirely convinced that it shut down from the video alone, but it might have.

Does it?  I see what looks like the vehicle passing through the cloud deck.

[ugordan]

Speculation: the event came suspiciously close to max-Q. If it was indeed the corner engine fairing that broke off (and that was a fairly large piece visible), it might have damaged the corner engine enough to cause the engine controller to shut it down.

[Kabloona]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

Edit: yes, this is pure speculation on my part, but the fact that Gwynne just verified an engine was lost, along with obvious visual evidence of a major violent event occurring, it's pretty evident that something serious happened to Engine 1. And I'm just saying...my first reaction was that it looked to me like a turbopump explosion...

please note that she said anomaly NOT loss of engine.

I do stand corrected there, she did say "anomaly" and not "loss."

[sitharus]

Does it?  I see what looks like the vehicle passing through the cloud deck.

Looks like parts to me, shapes are too regular

[Robotbeat]

I called it first: turbopump exploded.

who makes M1C turbopumps?

Barber-Nichols

[meekGee]

Speculation: the event came suspiciously close to max-Q. If it was indeed the corner engine fairing that broke off (and that was a fairly large piece visible), it might have damaged the corner engine enough to cause the engine controller to shut it down.

I like this one better.  Since the turbopumps are supposed to be compartmentalized to prevent collateral damage, why would a failed turbopump cause such a large piece to fall off?

otoh, ugordan's explanation is a single cause proposal.  my vote's here.

[Lee Jay]

Does it?  I see what looks like the vehicle passing through the cloud deck.

See if you can play the video I posted above.  It's conclusive that parts came off.

[kirghizstan]

i cannot do screen captures on this but the video from below seems to show something happening at that moment to like the plume of one engine changes and after a few seconds shuts down.  maybe someone here can take a look and let me know if i'm seeing things.  it looks like there is a darker streak on one of the corners relative to the others.

[Chandonn]

Does it?  I see what looks like the vehicle passing through the cloud deck.

See if you can play the video I posted above.  It's conclusive that parts came off.

I still disagree.  It happens right as the vehicle passes through the cloud deck.  It could be a part falling off, or a turbopump exploding.  I'd rather wait for something official before jumping to conclusions.  And, yes, the video DOES simply look like a pass through the cloud layer to me.

[Kabloona]

Speculation: the event came suspiciously close to max-Q. If it was indeed the corner engine fairing that broke off (and that was a fairly large piece visible), it might have damaged the corner engine enough to cause the engine controller to shut it down.

I like this one better.  Since the turbopumps are supposed to be compartmentalized to prevent collateral damage, why would a failed turbopump cause such a large piece to fall off?

otoh, ugordan's explanation is a single cause proposal.  my vote's here.

I agree, on further review, with ugordan. There were big, big pieces coming off right after going supersonic, and it's more likely aero forces than an exploding turbopump making those big pieces come off. I retract my rash exploding turbopump theory...

[Hooperball]

Looks like Spacex just pulled the video off their YouTube channel...

S