SpaceX’s Starship caused ‘catastrophic’ damage on the ground | Hacker News Reader

SpaceX’s Starship caused ‘catastrophic’ damage on the ground

theverge.com

26 pointsKapura14 comments

The article is largely based on comments from Phil Metzger, who definitely knows a thing or two about launch pad design and debris thrown out by thrust impacting surface features like the lunar regolith.

I'd be willing to bet they'll have a proper flame trench for the next launch so this won't be a major issue going forward.

That's an odd bet to make, considering SpaceX don't have any plans to build a flame trench. They plan instead to build a "flame-plate"; basically a flame trench without the trench, just the deluge system.

There has been conflicting info, but there's also a prediction market bet on it: https://manifold.markets/Mqrius/will-spacex-build-a-flame-tr...

There's no room for a trench there. They're only a couple feed above water there.

Well you can always go up with the whole installation. Its expensive but possible.

I consider the launch a pure unadulterated success. They ran simulations, took the precautions, this was NOT the Apollo I. N it's the nature of the business, fuck, same as the best chemists have lost fingers n accepted the nobel prize with the remaining fingers.

It's j the media hates Elon Musk now even more than ever.

no. its perfectly reasonable to criticize this instance. They saw it coming and ignored it, other people saw it and called it out too.

"pure unadulterated success" is just willful ignorance, there is a world where the launch goes well AND the surrounding area and equipment doesnt get wrecked

One of those that called it out before: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35590279

Wow, this is incredible. The bit near the end that there was no deluge/flame trench turned out to be spot on.

A success until someone dies?

They broke their rocket with this plan, it is not unreasonable to assume they could have damaged it in other ways to turn a mostly controlled situation into one that sends a (very) low altitude ballistic missile into a populated area.

They need their permits pulled until they can act responsibly.

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