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Compare the amount of force it takes to crush an aluminum can from the sides vs. from the top and bottom. A rocket is the same basic shape and material.

Probably not exploded, just that the lateral stresses that the rocket is designed for.

Rockets have to withstand a lot of different types of forces (axial, all sorts of vibrational, probably hoop type stresses), but massive lateral shocks aren't really one of them.

> Probably not exploded

I don't know about that: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/488718649515986944

Even with minimal fuel, the tanks are still highly pressurized, a loss in hull integrity would result is a rapid depressurization of those tanks. It may not have been a fiery explosion, but I would bet it made a hell of a bang.

Think belly flops on a rocket scale.

I think it just meant that because it was wholly immersed in water, it's not worth refurbishing.