SpaceX Assembly Stand Collapse Damages SN9

[glend (Glen)]

This morning, our time, the SN9 test vehicle in the High Bay building, was damaged when the assembly stand collapsed and the Starship tilted over and hit the High Bay wall. This happened literally hour before it was scheduled to be moved to the launch pad for initial pressure testing.
In a way we can be grateful that it happened while it was still in the assembly building and not on the roller transport on the way to the pad, in which case it would have fallen over completely and likely destroyed.
So what now, they have to get in there and inspect the situation. There is clearly damage on the fin structure area on the side that hit the building. The nose area also houses the header tank pressure vessel, and any damage to that tank area would probably mean the ship is seriously compromised, and there maybe no point in testing on the pad. If they write it off then SN10, which is being assembled, would be the next candidate for testing. Likely impact on test schedule, unknown, but if SN9 has to be scrapped, it could be a month.
Video of the stand collapse and SN9 tilt over impacting the High Bay, is up on Labpadre's Utube channel.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Bummer. Not sticking the landing this week, well that happens. Structural failure of a supporting structure has to be a bit of a stop and think things over moment.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by glend

This morning, our time, the SN9 test vehicle in the High Bay building, was damaged when the assembly stand collapsed and the Starship tilted over and hit the High Bay wall. This happened literally hour before it was scheduled to be moved to the launch pad for initial pressure testing.
In a way we can be grateful that it happened while it was still in the assembly building and not on the roller transport on the way to the pad, in which case it would have fallen over completely and likely destroyed.
So what now, they have to get in there and inspect the situation. There is clearly damage on the fin structure area on the side that hit the building. The nose area also houses the header tank pressure vessel, and any damage to that tank area would probably mean the ship is seriously compromised, and there maybe no point in testing on the pad. If they write it off then SN10, which is being assembled, would be the next candidate for testing. Likely impact on test schedule, unknown, but if SN9 has to be scrapped, it could be a month.
Video of the stand collapse and SN9 tilt over impacting the High Bay, is up on Labpadre's Utube channel.

Isn't it made of Steel? Just send it to the local panel beaters

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

Isn't it made of Steel? Just send it to the local panel beaters

Close up photos reveal some damage to the winglets on the bottom. Assumed damage on the top where it impacted the building. They will need to find a way to right it, likely the big blue mobile crane will have to be brought over and hopefully can get its boom inside. Cranes work best lifting vertically, and this ship is now canted to the right, (the lifting points are on the nose), so stress on the left side of the body maybe greater than usual in a lift. Usually they roll out to lift it onto the transporter.
Hydraulic jacks under the stand ring maybe a better choice (well in addition to having the crane attached to take the load as the ship returns to vertical).
Certainly they will need to review assembly stand strength and build QA, there are others there in use.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Depending on how it fell, at least given the previous flight test the structure is obviously designed to take significant bending loads given it is expected to orient itself into a belly flop situation by effectively adding or reducing drag at the ends of the ship, to keep itself level.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

Depending on how it fell, at least given the previous flight test the structure is obviously designed to take significant bending loads given it is expected to orient itself into a belly flop situation by effectively adding or reducing drag at the ends of the ship, to keep itself level.

The circular ring assembly gives ridigity and many of the rings are reinforced with internal bracing between segments. Horizontal sky dives are spreading the load across all of the curved rings, whereas falling against a building is applying point loads on the structure. At the very least there will be some dents, likely in the nose, where the header tanks are located.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Knowing the huge program ahead of Space X, I’m pretty sure they will have SN9 ready for test flight sooner than you think
They are talking about earth low orbital flights of Starship mid 2021 and Lunar orbital flights by late 2022 , Lunar landings to follow ....
The most progressive private space company in the world , no one comes near them at the moment IMOH

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Startrek

Knowing the huge program ahead of Space X, I’m pretty sure they will have SN9 ready for test flight sooner than you think
They are talking about earth low orbital flights of Starship mid 2021 and Lunar orbital flights by late 2022 , Lunar landings to follow ....
The most progressive private space company in the world , no one comes near them at the moment IMOH

SN9 has been resurrected, or at least put onto a new stand for repairs. Seems they have decided to repair it rather than scrap it. There is a school of thought that suggests these things will get dents in them, just bang them out and get on with the job. SN9 needs a new forward winglet but that only takes a day to swap. They had it out of the high bay to position the New stand and it is back inside now for corrective surgery. Should be headed to the pad by the end of the week I imagine. Pressures test required anyway before engine mounting.

BTW, cargo Starships must launch to Mars by June 2022 in order to pre-position stores and equipmeng for first crew flights in mid 2024. Not sure how high up the Moon is on Musk's priority list, but he certainly should have enough Starship shells for NASA by 2022.
Critical item on the timeline is the booster, they need to get a move on with that.