X PRIZE Cup 2007 - Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge

[Chuckjagermeister]

Nice backfire.

[Membrane556]

The asymmetric thrust issue hopefully should not happen next time since they have switched from the graphite engine nozzle to a film cooled steel nozzle which should be much less susceptible to cracking.

[shelle1even]

Is The Reason Of Doing this in such a dusty enviroment to simulate lunar dust when landing!?

[sardonic87]

no, its where the site is.

[theredhaha]

I was there...it was awesome!!!

[smlTV]

i was the second one to launch the mini rocket and mine hit the groud first, but thats because the parachute caught air like 10 feet from the ground, 0 casualties

[smlTV]

i was on a field trip there from buena vista elementary

[theredhaha]

...this is awesome, that was one hot day too!

[theczechfamous]

That looks like the delta-x.

[eclecticos]

I think I heard someone fart in the background. :)

[palluxomedia]

hahahah... it certainly did sound like a fart.

[kalisz1974]

You can easily see assymettric plume reddish plume and little white separate plume cslose to the engine throat.

[SABlackhawk]

Hard start at the beginning of the second leg cracked the graphite chamber. The excess fuel leaking into the chamber and what was surely a damaged throat led to asymmetric thrust that the control system couldn't handle.

[theczechfamous]

That was still pretty impressive. Do you work for them or something?

[aegidian]

Dammit - looks like auto-pilot induced oscillation.

[nightcloak92]

There isnt a pilot; its all automated.

[aegidian]

"auto-pilot" - durrrhhh!