X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air - Gizmodo Comments

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Purple Dave — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:45:33 EDT

Use the Force, Lu...er, um. So, he's got a twin sister, right? (And yes, they did pattern it off of Luke's Red 5).

@Klappstuhl:
Not at all. If the rocket engine is powerful enough, it'll just rip through whatever was built around it and leave a flaming corpse of a "rocketship" on the launchpad.

@titanmonster:
You are. Wrong, that is. We see a whole squadron of X-Wings taking off from the surface of Yavin in Ep4. At least in the SE version, we did (can't recall if that was added, revamped, or left alone).

Purple Dave

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

kicksonfire — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:42:59 EDT

Ouch! Use the force !!! They need some better materials for sure!

KicksOnFire.com - Air Jordans & Nike SB News and Updates

kicksonfire

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

titanmonster — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:32:24 EST

I'm probably wrong here, but I thought x-wings were designed to fly in space only, and not take off through the atmosphere. which would make the un-aerodynamicalness moot, right?

titanmonster

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

cosgrach — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:34:45 EDT

It was not made of balsa wood, but rather spruce (remember that old aircraft were spruce). There was very little AL used in the construction - mainly the wing pivot shaft. It had a small motor to spread the wings to the 'attack' position.

The frame was not made of AL, because so far as I know, it's not allowed to use metal superstructures in amateur rockets. To do so would have disqualified them from flying it.

cosgrach

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

halloweenjack — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:25:26 EDT

"...almost... there..."

halloweenjack

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

leicaman — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:12:56 EDT

The dang Ruskies are up to their tricks again! :-D

Seriously, my father was in counterespionage in the OSS (precursor of the CIA). The CIA tried to recruit him to investigate Soviet sabotage of a US satellite launch attempt (before Sputnik) that failed (You've probably seen the film of which this reminded me). He wouldn't take the job. His former boss did - and was killed.

So watch out X-Wing makers! The Ruskies are at it again! Surely it wasn't the fact the X-Wing guys didn't have any engineers helping?

leicaman

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Saboth — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:27:42 EDT

@Elliuotatar:

Perhaps more impressive, but also more boring. Space shuttles? Yawwwwwwn. If you had a chance to fly an X-Wing or a Space Shuttle, which would you choose? Yeah, I thought so.

Saboth

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

spaceman37 — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:57:50 EDT

I hope some photographers were there. I know I wish I was. It would be a shame if this crappy quality video is all we have of this event.

spaceman37

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

spaceman37 — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:55:02 EDT

@Silenthillnight: Not necessarily true. The wings spread for attack position - which can be in space or regular atmoshphere.

spaceman37

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Dimplemonkey — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:43:13 EDT

Was that Beavis and Butthead's love child jumping up and down, muttering, "Heh, heh, heh I like explosions... and I like to burn stuff, too!"

Dimplemonkey

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

strider_mt2k — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:41:21 EDT

Quick poll:

How many times have you watched this?

a) Lots

b) None at all

c) All of them.

strider_mt2k

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

mfaerber — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:15:56 EDT

that man deserves a slow clap

mfaerber

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

MacBastard — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:09:09 EDT

Maybe the Force could remind these guys to turn on the image stabilization on the camcorder next time.

MacBastard

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

aboriginal — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:06:31 EDT

Wood + rockets = notagoodmix. No rocket scientists were hurt during this stunt, 'cuz there weren't any.

aboriginal

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Fierock — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:51:45 EDT

for their next project I hereby request a 1:12 scale of the USS Starship Enterprise (DAT WOULD BE AWWWWEEESOMM)

Fierock

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

DeadWriter — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 23:34:26 EDT

YODA: "No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Kapow!

DeadWriter

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

iluvmyjeep — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 23:16:50 EDT

Hey did someone catch the license plate of that TIE fighter?

iluvmyjeep

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Jesse in Japan — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:45:11 EDT

The problem wasn't that they made it out of balsa wood. The problem was that they had four sources of thrust which weren't perfectly aligned, which is why it didn't fly straight at all before breaking up.

Jesse in Japan

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Dsinope — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:27:27 EDT

From the video it looks like it was unstable - the center of gravity was too far aft. It started to tumble and the side loads from the wind tore it apart.

Dsinope

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

MasterYong — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:59:03 EDT

I read about this launch a few days ago. I was REALLY excited. I'm not sure I've ever been so disappointed in my entire life!!! WAY worse than not getting "Mystery Date" for Christmas when I was five.

MasterYong

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Jeremias — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:47:42 EDT

Man who had the Brilliant idea to make a "rocket" this Big, With 4 Propulsion Rockets out of wood???

Jeremias

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

tin — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:12:45 EDT

yea i lol'd when i heard parts of it were balsa wood and they were actually going to try and fly it. WTF were they thinking?

tin

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

strider_mt2k — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:34:55 EDT

@Windhawk: I really liked that one!

strider_mt2k

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Maxwells_Nylon_Hammer — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:21:59 EDT

So it seems that building rockets is not rocket science after all.

Maxwells_Nylon_Hammer

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

xterramatt — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:10:45 EDT

ILM gets decidedly low tech again.

If you freeze frame the video you can see the cells where the green screen images are pasted onto the matte board.

I woulda thought they would have a little better quality video... they are nerds, ya know...

Is that Tatooine? And a Jawa celebrating the demise of a rebel ship?

xterramatt

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Balance_In_Life — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:04:19 EDT

From what i saw from the video is, they are damn lucky it broke up. It looked like it started to head towards the crowd.

Balance_In_Life

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Simpsons-Movie-ruled — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:00:07 EDT

LMAO!!!!!!!1 that was awesome-o

Simpsons-Movie-ruled

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

thebear91 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:52:25 EDT

The Estes Rocket of this worked fine, in fact, it glided pretty well too.

Can't cut cost when you need light and strong.

I'm just glad it didn't take off in the wrong direction.

thebear91

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

av8thor — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:43:44 EDT

Well, the thing went from zero, to, guessing from the video about 100' in about 3 seconds before it started to break up.

So, someone who's better at math help me out here, it was probably going a good 60-70 mph when it folded up?

So, zero to sixty, let's call it, STRIAGHT UP in three seconds. Kudos to them that the damn engines didn't just blow out the front and leave the rest of it sitting on the pad.

The Force is strong with this one...

av8thor

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

aphexacid — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:31:26 EDT

Fucking WEAK.

aphexacid

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

LittleBigPlaneteer — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:17:19 EDT

Someone edit that video and make it so a tie fighter blasts it. I will give you a reward

LittleBigPlaneteer

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Adolf — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 16:12:05 EDT

Thankfully we don't need those X-Wing Fighters... It's not like we're being dominated by an evil empir... oh, shit! Put another one of those together NOW!!

Adolf

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Dusty1 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 15:36:43 EDT

By deploying the S-foils as it launched shifted the stress to a weaker part of the framwork, chances are it might have held together longer if they had waited to deploy after thrust. A fascinating video, and my compliments to the team on a noble effort and something for us to argue about for months to come

Dusty1

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

whiskey — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 15:34:43 EDT

... An incident in California has prompted Rebel Alliance's Engineers to issue a recall on as many as 1,000 X-Wing Fighters.

This video shows how one of the main gas lines for the initial propulsor engine boost can lead to explosion and death if left unattended.

Rebel Alliance representatives will give a press conference later in the day.

In other news, can the Blue Empire Milk kill you from internal combustion? More details after the break...

whiskey

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Trowble (XBL/PSN) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:39:13 EDT

@Hvedhrungr: Only way to lose is to fail to try...

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Sublimenaltouches — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:35:44 EDT

maybe try a more realistic science-fiction space vehicle for the next attempt? perhaps something more sleak so it has less resistance. i remember doing a blackbird rocket when i was yonger, it had many succesfull flights and still looked good.

Sublimenaltouches

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Deech — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:24:16 EDT

Of course they were cheering. Any time you launch something that big, it's cool, even if it blows up spectacularly. (Heck, blowing up in a spectacular fashion is probably the second best result you can get!)

Deech

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

bobdobbs — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:15:26 EDT

My Estes X-wing had a similar fate. But it only cost me 6 bucks, and I was 9.

bobdobbs

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

discounteggroll — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:10:43 EDT

Jobs must have been nervous with all the rumors that there was going to be a boom bigger than his.

he (and his ego) can finally breathe a sigh of relief

discounteggroll

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

slingblade — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:08:27 EDT

Sure..sure...it wasn't Darth Vader...finally! Vengeance is ours!

slingblade

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Silenthillnight — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:44:42 EDT

Doesn't he know the X-Wings never spread their wings until they're in space?!?!

On a side note, I love how that kid on his daddy's shoulders is pumping his arm while it breaks apart.

Silenthillnight

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

JediLow — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:42:09 EDT

Beyond the construction materials reason for it breaking up... it also looks like the rockets weren't all firing at either the same speed or completely the same direction... which this design is probably the harder thing to do (synchronizing 4 separate rockets...)

JediLow

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

ekrock — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:22:57 EDT

It looked to me like there were people standing much closer to the launch point than is safe--particularly the two guys standing closest in, who appear to be well within the distance the rocket's engines could move it. What if it had fallen over sideways at launch and headed straight towards them? Don't get me wrong. I think this is a great project and great lark and congratulate the team on pulling this off. I just hope that they'll learn from the experience of past rocket designers and keep people further back at any future launches .. and keep posting the video online!

ekrock

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Jesus Diaz — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:12:11 EDT

@Milkham: no. He was an X-Wing pilot, Red Squadron.

Jesus Diaz

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Captain Nobody — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:55:24 EDT

sure they can rebuild the x-wing fighter, but how do you replace that poor r2 unit?

Captain Nobody

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

bbfreak — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:55:14 EDT

Hmm, perhaps the reason they used wood is weight and cost. Especially weight, if you know anything about rockets you know that the more weight you have the more oomph you need to lift it. Gladly do a better job if you think you can and are willing to sink the money into such an endeavour. I think it's pretty cool though.

bbfreak

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Milkham — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:39:31 EDT

porkins died flying a y wing didn't he?

Milkham

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

ninjatales — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:35:33 EDT

They should just paint an X-Wing profile on a more aerodynamic design. We all know George Lucas never went to an aeronautical design school.

ninjatales

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

EBone — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:58:40 EDT

We'll, it didn't explode on the launch pad, which was what my money was on.

PS = Photophile wins the thread.

EBone

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Fierock — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:57:56 EDT

I think the builders mentioned they did not expect it to last... So if I was a spectator I'd just be glad the debris field was in that direction it was.

Fierock

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

godwhacker — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:41:23 EDT

@beramodk:
me either, looks like what is not stored on the giz server is gettin lost somewhere
i tried both ie and firefox, same results
its a waiting game till they fix it

godwhacker

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

erockO — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:40:10 EDT

@beramodk:

same thing is happening to me. probably just a server side bug or something because I can see pictures from yesterday.

erockO

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Klappstuhl — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:39:10 EDT

@beramodk: Same thing on Kotaku.

Klappstuhl

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Klappstuhl — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:38:54 EDT

He should have made a stronger metal frame. Especially for the wings.

@Step666: Well, if the rocket engine is strong enough, I'd say the shape of it the vehicle is a rather secondary question.

Klappstuhl

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

beramodk — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:28:43 EDT

Can someone help me... I can't see any pictures in the main page of gizmodo (I only see a white space with the red X at the corner). What plugin do I need to install? I have java and flash already... same thing happens in kotaku. Thanks

beramodk

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

CEOself — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:27:22 EDT

go with throttle up

CEOself

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

bmg50barrett — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:22:59 EDT

@David Flores: that was a Y-Wing...which is fundamentally different than the X-Class fighter system...(pushes up taped glasses)...you have offended me.

jk. lol

bmg50barrett

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

photophile — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:15:25 EDT

"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."

Apparently it doesn't bind balsa wood together.

photophile

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Monty — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:14:03 EDT

They will have to take a year off while they investigate the cause of the accident. I heard their was frost at the launch site that morning, and it seems the could have interfered with the solid rocket booster.

Fantastic stuff, regardless.

Monty

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Emiat — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:04:26 EDT

@Elliuotatar:

Of course it was better, it ended up been a bomb.

I love them kind of stunts they do on Top Gear, makes it more interesting then the other car shows.

Emiat

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

dicknervous — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:57:51 EDT

Awesome! SImply awesome! Te fact that it got off the ground is great. Now they just need to redeisgn it with stronger materials...

dicknervous

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

univision — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:42:23 EDT

I love the "Holy Shit" at the end. I don't think that was in any of the movies...but it should have been!

univision

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

davidfbecker — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:36:09 EDT

When I first heard about this guy making the X-Wing a few days ago, I thought that they meant it to be a manned vehicle. LoL.

davidfbecker

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy! — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:31:15 EDT

@erockO: I imagine since hover-capable propulsion mechanisms have not been invented yet to counteract the poor aerodynamic design of the X-wing fighter.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

erockO — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:24:54 EDT

since when do x-wings take off vertically?

erockO

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

JRo — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:21:28 EDT

Maybe they should make the next one out of something stronger than balsa wood.

JRo

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

kingofmars — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:07:19 EDT

If your going to fail, fail big.

kingofmars

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

DataScream — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:03:29 EDT

the force is NOT strong in this one
/rimshot

DataScream

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

s017jrs — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:56:55 EDT

So Effing Cool!
So it blew up mid flight...
How many of you packed your model rockets with firecrackers hoping they would go off when the engine blew out the chute?!
I sure did. I had a blast doing it! I cheered too!

s017jrs

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

xterramatt — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:54:59 EDT

LUKE
I don't believe it.

YODA
That is why you fail.

xterramatt

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Windhawk — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:47:05 EDT

- I got a little cooked, but I'm okay.

Windhawk

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Elliuotatar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:45:16 EDT

The Top Gear Space Shuttle was more impressive, and more technically challenging!

[youtube.com]

Skip to 7:30 if you just want to see the launch.

Elliuotatar

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

TrooperJoe — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:40:54 EDT

Fan-freakin-tastic!!!!! That was so worth it. The dreamers keep dreaming, the critics keep critiquing and here I am just slap happy theres people out there just damn well doing it. ROCKet ON my geeky brethren!!!!

TrooperJoe

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

txturbo930 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:27:39 EDT

Sad after all that hard work. Look good for a second.

txturbo930

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Emiat — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:10:49 EDT

In noo way will Luke Skywalker will be able to use his force powers to get out of this situation.

Emiat

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Collins1 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:20:26 EDT

But it looked so sturdy!

Collins1

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Step666 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:09:34 EDT

@zarchitect: yes, and then we'll see even more of them disintegrate.

It wasn't just the construction at fault, it was also the design. I'm not rocket scientist but even I know there's a reason that all proper rockets are 'vibrator shaped'.

Still, I must admit it did better than I expected - I didn't think it would take off.

Step666

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

strider_mt2k — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:55:33 EDT

You worry about those fighters, I'll worry about the towers!

@whiteknight: They were cheering because it was spectacular!

I'm sorry it didn't get farther, but it was still a great effort.

Thanks for following up with the video, Gizmodo!

strider_mt2k

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

gundamsdontkillpeople — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:39:50 EDT

At least the pilot parachuted down back to Earth, I mean the "Rebel forces base". Only the Empire pays out on life insurance so that guy's family would be out in the cold if he died.

gundamsdontkillpeople

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

homerjay — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:35:11 EDT

aaaaats a shame.... really is.

homerjay

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

zarchitect — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:33:49 EDT

what we may see coming out of this is model rockets in the likeness of cool stuff rather than just your standard issue vibrator. Awesome vid - yet sad.

zarchitect

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

huygir — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:25:44 EDT

Called it! (well, pretty much).

huygir

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Serolf Divad — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:56:14 EDT

Gold Five to Red leader, I Lost Tiree, Lost Dutch. They came from... behind!

Serolf Divad

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

whiteknight — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:56:13 EDT

They were cheering!? It blew apart and they were still cheering! After the time I put into my hobby projects I would have been seriously pissed if that happened. Maybe they just didn't design it that seriously.

whiteknight

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

yogibimbi — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:36:13 EDT

well, as far as I remember parts of the construction were balsa wood, which might probably have been just a tack too weak. Carbon is not so hard too manage if you laminate it like in custom surfboard construction and a bazillion times stronger yet not necessarily much heavier. Well, just my 10 cents of it, but yet I don't really know anything about their construction, so I'm basically just an obnoxious know-it-all... ;-)

yogibimbi

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air

Hvedhrungr — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:34:22 EDT

Ok, the first few moments are absolutely amazing.
The rest, though, is pretty sad.

One question remains: Will they try again?

Hvedhrungr