
Just as she crossed Mach 1, the middle of our airframe burst apart into tiny bits overhead. From the photo analysis below, the reduction coupler began wobbling (despite a solid metal bar running up the middle) before ripping the fiber-glassed midsection apart.
The on-board avionic computer logged data through the supersonic burst, ending in a 100g singularity of shock to the system (chart below).
The upper and lower parts of the rocket fell separately and are largely unharmed, as is the avionics bay and motor. So she should take only a half hour or so to repair. But I did lose both on-board video cameras, the Flip HD did not save its file before losing power, and the cylindrical camera on the parachute line detached as the parachute shredded from supersonic inflation. If anyone finds a black cylinder out there, it might have a killer video. =)
Here is a compilation of the ground video from the pad cams and the flight line where the bottom section came back ballistic.











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