SpaceX (CNBC)Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles | Hacker News Reader

SpaceX (CNBC)Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles

cnbc.com

5 pointsdmbche8 comments

You can see the splashes in the surf as debris scatters outward, starting at about 16 seconds. https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1649097087248891904?s=20

(meant for (CNBC) to be first - typo)

(And add attention to the 4/20 launch date, and the 4/20 which was on the tanks on the rocket. Seems like a weed bit to rush the launch to 4/20)

The source of the debris is obviously the pulverized launch pad, not the rocket explosion.

Which is discussed in the article and the risks associated mentionned - including to the residents of the nearby towns which had their windows broken by the explosion.

I personally wonder if any collants/oils/odd materials were vaporised high enough to reach the nearby towns - if the stuff in your car is bad, imagine in this.

The fuel is all cryogenic liquids. The choice of fuel produces relatively little soot. The rocket is made of steel. That leaves tank insulation, maybe?

I mean do you have any relevant background? I'm fairly certain that rocket engines are not "just stainless steel", as engine normally require coolant and oils.

We're not really thinking that a "bleeding edge" rocket is just stainless steel are we?

(Edit: while I do understand that the fuel is used to cool the engine, I ask you to think about all of the stuff that is not the nozzle and that needs to he kept at precise temperatures to work)

The rocket engines are not just steel, but the alloys they are made of are pretty tough, they would not be pulverized. Almost all of Starship is made of stainless steel, though. There's little or no fancy carbon fiber, etc.

But there is one possible component that could in fact result in small debris and dust blown miles away from launch: The heat shield tiles.

Reportedly there might also be hydraulic fluid which is probably not unproblematic.

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