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by rezashirazian 3811 days ago
Am I the only one who was surprised by how violently the rocket exploded when it fell to its side?
2 comments

Put yourself in the liquid oxygen's shoes.

One second, you're chilling out at -207 C with your bros and some kerosenes, maybe even stopping off in near space--then, out of nowhere your containment vessel is compromised and you're evicted.. expected to just phase change and mix with all those common atmospherics.

I think I'd react the same way.

Thin metal tube containing gaseous oxygen and kerosene, pressurised to 50psi.

I suspect there is also a termination system that deliberately detonates so as to control the mode of failure (i.e.: combust the dangerous stuff before it has an opportunity to mix with the other stuff and make things worse)