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this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
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I agree that they have to do better. That cloud was likely a flameout that blew methane out before termination when the oxygen ran low.
I consider that these tests have to have some tolerance for failure as the finished product shouldn't result in any venting except in an accident.
The alternatives like keralox, solid fuel or hypergolics have worse emissions in actual operation and hydralox wastes vast amounts of energy refining and chilling liquid hydrogen, so getting the methalox cycle running will be a net benefit once testing is complete.
Indeed, they're all bad. If they manage to meet the design brief and have starship launching daily the 'drop in the bucket' argument will quickly lose its strength.
Those clouds were from the booster and then the ship exploding, the booster was supposed to return to the landing site and the ship was supposed to fly around to Hawaii. They were far from empty as evidenced by the clouds on the radar. Engine cut off does indeed leak fuel, you can see it on the video. Same as at startup. Spacex would have to tell us how much.
I find it very concerning since I fully expect spacex to pull it off and get these things launching as regularly as airplanes. I've soured on the hand waving it off as necessary to the Progress Of Man. It's looking more like this is all for the Progress Of One Man's Pocket Book.