We’ve all known about the Falcon 9 that was being tested out by Space X and was undergoing a number of missions. It was slated to make a powered landing following the launch of CRS-5 mission. However, the landing did not go according to plan and Elon Musk has now made the video and details of the crash available pertaining to Falcon 9 booster.
The crash occurred close to the end of Falcon 9’s mission that was to launch the CRS-5 unmanned re-supply mission, to the ISS. Once the mission entered the second stage, the Falcon 9 carried out a number of engine burns that were automated and started with a ‘boostback’ burn that was used by it to alter the course and aim for the landing site. This burn was followed by a propulsion, supersonic retro that slowed it down to a speed of 6.5ft/sec while the landing legs began deployment to attempt a soft touchdown in the Atlantic Ocean on an unmanned barge.
This was the point when things went south and instead of making the impact while travelling slow and straight, it dropped at a perilous angle and made impact with the deck of the spaceport drone ship. The fuel that was contained in the booster tanks detonated and the blast was so powerful that the rocket was turned into bits and pieces and caused heavy damage to the equipment present on barge.
As per Elon Musk, the reason crash was caused has been identified as the failure of hypersonic vanes, which are responsible for controlling the rocket’s altitude while it lowers into Earth’s atmosphere and towards the ground. He further added that there was a 10% shortage in the hydraulic fluid that was being used by the vanes during the final landing maneuver and this caused the rocket to become tilted on an angle.
Elon Musk’s tweet read; ‘Upcoming flight already has 50% more hydraulic fluid, so should have plenty of margin for landing attempt next month.’ Elon Musk further added; ‘Next rocket landing on drone ship in 2 to 3 weeks w (sic) way more hydraulic fluid. At least it shd (sic) explode for a diff reason.’
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2egcvy_spacex-fails-in-historic-landing-test_news
