[Symmetry]

Surprised but glad it didn't explode after it fell over. Apparently they plan to use it for internal projects, which I took to mean the in-flight abort test of the Dragon.

I seem to recall that the Block 5 is targeting >10 reuses so even if they flub 1 in 20 landings going forward that's far from the end of the world in ROI terms.

[achamayou]

It’s pretty much out of fuel by then, so an explosion isn’t very likely.

[Klathmon]

To be fair, there are plenty of examples of it exploding after touchdown in the early days (of landings), both on the barge and in the water, some which are pretty spectacular looking!

It may not meet the technical definition of an "explosion", but the fact that it's still intact here is a testament to how "soft" this hard landing was.

[mabbo]

There's lots of great videos to prove you wrong on that one, actually.

The most dangerous time for a can of gasoline is when it's just been emptied- because it's actually full, just of air and gasoline vapor. It's a bomb at that point if you aren't careful. Rockets? Similar problems.

Watch what happened a few years ago when another Falcon 9 fell over because of a faulty landing leg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr7GcpFGWd0

[achamayou]

Rockets contain both fuel and oxidiser, explosions when they are full are considerably worse than when empty. Compare the video you have linked to clips of Atlas or Soyuz blowing up on the pad.

[mabbo]

Too true! The Falcon 9 that exploded on the launch pad certainly proved that point.

Nonetheless, an empty rocket is still dangerous.

[greglindahl]

4 of 6 water landings blew up. A small amount of LOX goes a long way.