Oh no they lost the ship after the booster landed! Seems like they lost an engin...

londons_explore · 2025-01-16T23:06:36 1737068796

> fire around the rear flap hinges

I believe it's pretty hard to have a fire at that altitude. You need a leak of both methane and oxygen, and an ignition source.

I wonder if perhaps one of the engines split open and the exhaust wasn't going into the engine bell?

pixl97 · 2025-01-16T23:32:56 1737070376

I mean blowing liquid oxygen on something with a hot heat source beside it typically turns things to fuel you wouldn't expect. Like metal.

modeless · 2025-01-16T23:35:43 1737070543

Good point, must have been an O2 leak oxidizing random stuff.

londons_explore · 2025-01-17T15:16:45 1737127005

At atmospheric pressure, yes.

But up at 140km altitude, the pressure is so low that I don't think even pure oxygen would lead to combustion.

fooker · 2025-01-17T17:34:34 1737135274

There are two huge tanks providing the pressure here.

inglor_cz · 2025-01-16T23:14:51 1737069291

What a celestial bonfire. It indeed has a haunting beauty.