SpaceX had a successful launch, orbit insertion, and recovery of all 3 rocket boosters last Thursday. Unfortunately, they were unable to fasten down the central core on the ASDS (Autonomous spaceport drone ship) "Of Course I Still Love You:
Shifting seas and high winds brought it down.
(Score: 3, Informative) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday April 16 2019, @03:53PM (3 children)
The Falcon 9 doesn't use Hydrazine.
There are some contaminants though. For Propellants it uses RP-1 (very close to Kerosene) and Liquid oxygen for the main engines and Nitrogen cold gas thrusters for the RCS system. The hydraulic system contains a synthetic hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic system. The most unpleasant thing in the entire rocket is likely to be the Triethylaluminium/Triethylborane ignition mixture used to light the engines.
If it broke up then there will be a small oil slick from it. I haven't heard if it broke up, if they are going to blow it up, or if they will tow it back to shore. The landing was hundreds of kilometers from shore so sinking it in deep water seems the most likely option.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday April 16 2019, @07:17PM (2 children)
If sank, could it become the backbone of a new choral reef?
(I don't know the actual answer to that.)
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Osamabobama on Tuesday April 16 2019, @08:17PM
Coral reefs are close to the surface of the water. If it sank below where it landed, it would be too deep to support coral.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday April 16 2019, @09:32PM
If it is in shallow water, it is possible. This one will be too deep though. It's in the [other] black.