FAILURE: SpaceX Falcon I Launch III - August 2

[landofgrey]

time to go cry 5 minutes the start writing another sad story.

the webcast was but wasn't pulled, as it were. there was a 15-second-ish delay on the video feed from omelek and the rocket (I have a friend who lives on Kwaj and the communications with the outside world SUCKS). something happened to the rocket suddenly and it was destroyed. at that point the webcast was stopped. but we didn't get to see what happened in those last 15 seconds. my guess is a tumble and boom

good god what about F-9.

[jimvela]

From http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/

Anomoly in launch

Waiting for more information.

We have two more Falcon 1's right behind this one, no matter what happened.

[ZeeNL]

I don't think the slight roll oscillations were the problem. I have seen those in other launch videos (of other vehicles, I must admit.)

[Chris Bergin]

We had a few people working on recording the launch, so we'll see what we can do about a replay.
Very sad, and let's not see too much bashing for cutting the webcast. Commercial company - Sea Launch did the same thing.

[PurduesUSAFguy]

Great, tonight Alt.Space died and with it all hope of making the space program viable in the long term.

[JonSBerndt]

There was no first stage oscillation last time

In second stage last time I believe that was exacerbated by fuel slosh (no baffles?) - and that wasn't initially a roll oscillation as I recall. What's used in first stage roll control here? RCS?

JB

[simonbp]

F-9 has already been paid for out of NASA's pocket...

Simon

[Dalon]

Oh, that's trashy!

Detect a vehicle anomaly and just pull the video feed?   Bad form from Space-X.

Ross.

This is why I have just lost hope for them. Whenever something goes wrong they pull the broadcast and hide like chickens.

What else are they supposed to do if the vehicle exploded, show everyone that image on the web?

Sealaunch showed their explosion, and hats off to them.

No, Sealaunch just didn't cut the video feed fast enough to blank out the explosion.  SeaLaunch did cut that feed within 5 seconds of the boom. Then went straight to a SeaLaunch logo screen without any commentary.
 
SpaceX was probably just a little faster on the gun this time.  Last time SpaceX showed the launch until the video transmission failed.  It could have been the same this time, we just don't know yet.

[lcs]

I suspect that 20 sec late firing after the aborted launch was for real.  Maybe related to the anomaly, maybe not.

It was not, it was web delay

There was no delay between the T=0 call by the commentator and liftoff.

[sdsds]

I'll give them one more try.   And I'll give them one more chance to get the PR gig right.   After that, I'll just start saying 'leave it to the professionals' - in both respects.

Ross.

There are plenty of us who will "give them" as many chances as they wish to take.... So long as they aren't gambling with our money!

[Jim]

I don't think the slight roll oscillations were the problem. I have seen those in other launch videos (of other vehicles, I must admit.)

It is not normal  and it is not in other vehicles.

[dmc6960]

There was no first stage oscillation last time

In second stage last time I believe that was exacerbated by fuel slosh (no baffles?) - and that wasn't initially a roll oscillation as I recall. What's used in first stage roll control here? RCS?

JB

Gas generator exhaust.

[Zachstar]

Another thing about this...  What about flights to the space station? You think censoring the feed is going to be tolerated?

They can't do it then.. Why do it now?

[Oberon_Command]

Did anyone else notice a puff of flame around the engine shortly after liftoff? That's about when I noticed the roll oscillations started.

[edkyle99]

That seems like it was really close to first stage MECO/sep....

Yes.  Video was stopped at about 2 min 20 sec.  Second stage pressurization was supposed to be at 2 min 25 sec, then MECO at 2 min 38 sec. and stage sep at 2 min 39 sec. 

 - Ed Kyle

[landofgrey]

Nope you keep the camera on the PR person. You relay anything you can and calmly shut down the broadcast after a few mins worth of conclusion. You don't cut the feed and run. That is bad form and scares investors.

The worst was that last Proton that failed. First, we all watched it shutdown right at 2nd stage ignition and the merrily carry on with ascent color commentary, clueless, for minutes longer, then when THEY were told there's a problem, the lady summarily handed it off to her counterpart who said it's over bye. Sheesh.

I want to see those last 15 seconds. I will get on the phone as soon as things chill a bit over at SpaceX. I'm trying to figure out how I can write this up without sounding objectively dejected, or however you want to put it.

[clongton]

Did anyone else notice a puff of flame around the engine shortly after liftoff? That's about when I noticed the roll oscillations started.

Regen nozzle? First flight

[simonbp]

What's used in first stage roll control here? RCS?

IIRC, it's the GG exhaust, while TVC is hydraulic using RP-1 from the tanks...

Simon

[hop]

Oh, that's trashy!

Detect a vehicle anomaly and just pull the video feed and cut to adverts?

REALLY BAD FORM from Space-X.

Ross.

Huh ? Pretty much the same as what the big boys do. Sometimes it takes more or less time for to happen, but everyone cuts the feed when the rocket goes boom. Except the Russians, sometimes they show you a pre-programmed "telemetry" plot of what was supposed to happen.

The rolling did look odd like it was fighting some consistent torque in the other direction. I don't recall that from last time.

[Ford Mustang]

We have heard from launch control that there has been an anomaly. More details will be posted to the website as available.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php