3 yrs in the making; destroyed in 5 seconds
Always a chance this can happen - I happen to won the lottery this day. Made a 6.5 hour trek to NARAM58 this weekend to launch my lander/rover project... The solid rocket motor assembly (appears to have) failed 50 feet off the ground and the resultant explosions destroyed 3 years of work and thousands of dollars in less than 5 seconds. The failure resulted in a 100% loss of all vehicles (Launch vehicle, Lander, and Rover) and most of the electronics. I am shipping the fractured/melted casing and forward enclosure to the manuf. for analysis per their request.
You can see the launch video's here:
https://youtu.be/lZdIWAI9kHM
https://youtu.be/QcllMr-2NLc
Additional launch pictures here:
https://goo.gl/photos/gBoDL3aKuJNDWkjk8
I know this outcome is always a probability. I know I sound bitter; I am. I'm still sick to my stomach. Sounds ridiculous but after 3 years this project became a regular part of my weekly routine. Gonna miss her.
Signed,
"Sad in Springfield"
Always a chance this can happen - I happen to won the lottery this day. Made a 6.5 hour trek to NARAM58 this weekend to launch my lander/rover project... The solid rocket motor assembly (appears to have) failed 50 feet off the ground and the resultant explosions destroyed 3 years of work and thousands of dollars in less than 5 seconds. The failure resulted in a 100% loss of all vehicles (Launch vehicle, Lander, and Rover) and most of the electronics. I am shipping the fractured/melted casing and forward enclosure to the manuf. for analysis per their request.
You can see the launch video's here:
https://youtu.be/lZdIWAI9kHM
https://youtu.be/QcllMr-2NLc
Additional launch pictures here:
https://goo.gl/photos/gBoDL3aKuJNDWkjk8
I know this outcome is always a probability. I know I sound bitter; I am. I'm still sick to my stomach. Sounds ridiculous but after 3 years this project became a regular part of my weekly routine. Gonna miss her.
Signed,
"Sad in Springfield"