Good to know! My impression was that the FTS has to protect the stuff below the rocket by breaking it up into small pieces and burning off all the fuel. So the rocket doesn’t fall straight back onto the pad and blow it up (like it almost did here).
It’s probably not just software. I’d expect it to be an entirely separate set of processors which track how the flight is going and do absolutely nothing except decide whether or not to terminate
Good to know! My impression was that the FTS has to protect the stuff below the rocket by breaking it up into small pieces and burning off all the fuel. So the rocket doesn’t fall straight back onto the pad and blow it up (like it almost did here).
This “FTS” you’re taking about is just
if(!norminal) { Engines.off() }Not much of a system really.
It’s probably not just software. I’d expect it to be an entirely separate set of processors which track how the flight is going and do absolutely nothing except decide whether or not to terminate
Yea, makes sense
I imagine it’s a lot like cars.
Airbags can be very dangerous, so cars will try to detect if the accident would be better or worse with airbags, and then choose to deploy them.
Likely the FTS decided the safest thing to do is just shut down and continue the trajectory into the bay.
Well, was anything below the rocket harmed?
That sounds flippant, but really, that is what it comes down to.
In this case no, but it did come down a bit too close to the launch pad for comfort.