Falcon 9 has paint and/or primer literally falling off...

Here's a short clip showing two flakes falling off. It looks as though it's the green primer actually peels off instead of the white paint. That might not be healthy for the exposed metal underneath. Salty air etc.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Falcon9;
• Falcon
• 9;
• SpaceX;
• NASA;
• Constellation;
• Shuttle
• Replacement;
• Obama
• NASA

[SkyyCaptainn]

It's ice falling off from a cold LOX tank. Watch some Saturn V launch close up videos and you will see thousands of pieces of ice braking off at liftoff.

[rampike74]

Those things burn up in the atmosphere. No need for the paint to be long lasting like in case of a car or a train.

[khanrhy]

haha do not know why this popped back up in my suggested vids. Sure.. it might have paint flaking off. But it made it to orbit tout suite.

[witness2history]

That is ice caused by condensation on the cold walls of the rocket's cryo tanks. I feel off as warm breezes blew it away.

[Conservativepacheat]

it ice dude

[jim6584]

What is the frame of reference we're looking at? Is is just sitting there or is it full of fuel?

If it is full of fuel, liq O2 is rather cold, what you're seeing is most likely ice falling off. I doubt the paint is just flaking off after a month or 2 of being on the launch pad.

[lallenw]

I think its cork insulation