Explosive Failed SpaceX Rocket Landing Gets Play-By-Play Treatment From Elon Musk
(CBS SF) - Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk suffered a setback last night with the failed landing of a reusable rocket at a landing pad in Florida.
Fast Company reports that the same rocket which lifted off January 10th to provide supplies to the International Space Station. After separating from the supply pod, the rocket attempted to return to a floating platform last Saturday, something that's never been done before. Things looked good until the very end of the mission. Here's Musk's recap for the "unscheduled disassembly" of the Falcon 9 rocket:
@ID_AA_Carmack Before impact, fins lose power and go hardover. Engines fights to restore, but … pic.twitter.com/94VDi7IEHS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015
@ID_AA_Carmack Rocket hits hard at ~45 deg angle, smashing legs and engine section pic.twitter.com/PnzHHluJfG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015
@ID_AA_Carmack Residual fuel and oxygen combine pic.twitter.com/5k07SP8M9n
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015
@ID_AA_Carmack Full RUD (rapid unscheduled disassembly) event. Ship is fine minor repairs. Exciting day! pic.twitter.com/tIEctHFKHG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015
Here's what the crash looked like in real time:
https://vine.co/v/OjqeYWWpVWK
Musk has been joking about the wreck on Twitter.
Next rocket landing on drone ship in 2 to 3 weeks w way more hydraulic fluid. At least it shd explode for a diff reason.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2015
He says the landing pad should be fine but some equipment will need to be replaced.