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from the we-don't-know-what-we-don't-know dept.
After a decade, NASA's big rocket fails its first real test:
For a few moments, it seemed like the Space Launch System saga might have a happy ending. Beneath brilliant blue skies late on Saturday afternoon, NASA's huge rocket roared to life for the very first time. As its four engines lit, and thrummed, thunder rumbled across these Mississippi lowlands. A giant, beautiful plume of white exhaust billowed away from the test stand.
It was all pretty damn glorious until it stopped suddenly.
About 50 seconds into what was supposed to be an 8-minute test firing, the flight control center called out, "We did get an MCF on Engine 4." This means there was a "major component failure" with the fourth engine on the vehicle. After a total of about 67 seconds, the hot fire test ended.
During a post-flight news conference, held outside near the test stand, officials offered few details about what had gone wrong. "We don't know what we don't know," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "It's not everything we hoped it would be."
He and NASA's program manager for the SLS rocket, John Honeycutt, sought to put a positive spin on the day. They explained that this is why spaceflight hardware is tested. They expressed confidence that this was still the rocket that would launch the Orion spacecraft around the Moon.
And yet it is difficult to say what happened Saturday is anything but a bitter disappointment. This rocket core stage was moved to Stennis from its factory in nearby Louisiana more than one calendar year ago, with months of preparations for this critical test firing.
Honeycutt said before the test, and then again afterward, that NASA had been hoping to get 250 seconds worth of data, if not fire the rocket for the entire duration of its nominal ascent to space. Instead it got a quarter of that.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 18 2021, @03:04AM (3 children)
Remotely related.
Starting up a moderately complex hydraulic system, well broken in, and well maintained, you can see hydraulic fluid seep in multiple locations. Not much. Maybe a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil, in total. Let the machine warm up to operating temperature, 80 to 110 degrees F, and the seepage stops. You can wipe the oil away from all the wet spots, and none of them will seep again, until the next time you shut the machine down, and restart it cold.
Who'da thunk it - rubber and rubber-like compounds experience thermal expansion and thermal stress.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 18 2021, @04:37AM (1 child)
I would stay clear of hydraulic leaks. Actually, I'd stay clear of any hydraulic system that has been pressurized. Enjoy the photos:
https://www.mfcp.com/our-blog/bid/39816/danger-of-hydraulic-oil-injection-injuries [mfcp.com]
https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr976.pdf [hse.gov.uk]
https://www.tigercat.com/safety/a-dangerous-bite/ [tigercat.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 18 2021, @03:29PM
Hydraulics has it's hazards. If you want some really bad nightmares, search for live steam injuries. Mistakes with steam are far less forgiving than liquids under pressure.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 18 2021, @04:48AM
The viscosity of hydraulic oil too but we're offtopic and I'm still having nightmares about that one...