CEO and Co-founder Daniel Metzler: “Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System. With this result, we feel confident to approach our second flight.”
By just looking at the video, you can see that they cut the engines after the rocket starts tilting. I guess that’s the flight termination system. Also, it didn't fall into the ground, but into the water.
I cannot tell if you're joking or not, but a rocket crashing into water vs on land is easily the difference between "no big deal" and "property damage + loss of life."
I've read a lot about this from at least the United States perspective. The rocket wasn't launched from the United States, but the FAA requirements on flight termination is the ceasing of thrust and removing "energy" from the vehicle by rupturing tanks if they pose a danger. The primary thing that's trying to be prevented by flight termination systems is damage/danger to uninvolved parties. So if it's low to the ground simply shutting off the engines is a perfectly fine solution to the issue. If its higher then rupturing the tanks will be needed as it's likely going to land outside the safety area.
For larger rockets this is typical, however smaller rockets often only have a thrust termination system - for example apparently Rocketlab's Electron uses thrust termination.
Comments
See: https://isaraerospace.com/newsroom-first-test-flight
Does the flight termination system consist of the rocket free-falling into the ground resulting in a fiery explosion?
By just looking at the video, you can see that they cut the engines after the rocket starts tilting. I guess that’s the flight termination system. Also, it didn't fall into the ground, but into the water.
Ah yes very important distinction this
I cannot tell if you're joking or not, but a rocket crashing into water vs on land is easily the difference between "no big deal" and "property damage + loss of life."
See also the V2 Rocket.
I've read a lot about this from at least the United States perspective. The rocket wasn't launched from the United States, but the FAA requirements on flight termination is the ceasing of thrust and removing "energy" from the vehicle by rupturing tanks if they pose a danger. The primary thing that's trying to be prevented by flight termination systems is damage/danger to uninvolved parties. So if it's low to the ground simply shutting off the engines is a perfectly fine solution to the issue. If its higher then rupturing the tanks will be needed as it's likely going to land outside the safety area.
The CEO said that it didn't blew up the pad: https://x.com/danielmetzler/status/1906307777242275881
I don't see why would you detonate the rocket if it doesn't pose danger to just fall down. Probably its also easier to collect the debris.
To minimize the shock impact on the ground. This one created a respectable-sized tsunami,
https://youtu.be/LlAgenP2RxM?t=116
Normally a flight termination system has explosive charges.
For larger rockets this is typical, however smaller rockets often only have a thrust termination system - for example apparently Rocketlab's Electron uses thrust termination.
Certainly a glass half full way of looking at it.