SpaceX 'Test Hopper' Damaged During Texas Windstorm | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

Fri, Jan 25, 2019

SpaceX 'Test Hopper' Damaged During Texas Windstorm

Prototype Rocket Will Take 'Weeks' To Repair, Musk Says

High winds at the SpaceX launch complex in Texas blew over the "test hopper" rocket that is a prototype of the spacecraft the company hopes will one day carry people to Mars.

Winds gusting to more than 50 miles per hour blew the upper section of the rocket to the ground, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk says the damage will take "weeks" to repair, according to a report from Business Insider.

The prototype was never intended to be launched into orbit, but rather to conduct a series of test flights to altitudes of up to 16,400 feet.

The portion of the test article that was damaged is the fairing, or nose cone. One resident described the winds as being similar to a hurricane. Initially, the prototype was sheltered from the wind, but it reportedly shifted during the night and blew the top off the vehicle.

Earlier this month, Musk said that the test flights could get underway in four to eight weeks. That timeline is now very likely delayed while the damage is repaired.

(Images via Twitter and provided by SpaceX)

FMI: www.spacex.com, Business Insider report


Advertisement

More News

Sierra Space Repositions Dream Chaser for First Mission

With Testing Soon Complete, Launch Preparations Begin in Earnest Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but w>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.10.24): Takeoff Roll

Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.10.24)

“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.11.24)

"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.11.24): IDENT Feature

IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne-NextGen 05.14.24: 5293 Drone Record, Airbus Acquires, VA-1X UAS Accident

Airborne 05.13.24: DC-9 Jump Plane, Wag-Aero Sold, VA-1X AAIB Report

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC