Do rockets, launch vehicles or spacecraft contain a black-box?

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Like aeroplanes, do rockets also contains some black-box kind of thing to see what went wrong at the time of failure?










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    up vote
    15
    down vote

    favorite












    Like aeroplanes, do rockets also contains some black-box kind of thing to see what went wrong at the time of failure?










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      15
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      15
      down vote

      favorite











      Like aeroplanes, do rockets also contains some black-box kind of thing to see what went wrong at the time of failure?










      share|improve this question















      Like aeroplanes, do rockets also contains some black-box kind of thing to see what went wrong at the time of failure?







      rockets failure black-box






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      edited 8 mins ago









      Hohmannfan♦

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      asked yesterday









      Amar

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          3 Answers
          3






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          up vote
          29
          down vote













          Key data for the Columbia accident investigation was provided by recovery of the MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder which amazingly survived reentry and was found largely intact.



          enter image description here



          The MADS recorder captured crucial engineering data that wasn't sent to the ground through telemetry.




          As the first spaceworthy orbiter, Columbia was instrumented with
          hundreds of sensors—strain gauges, temperature probes, and the like—to
          study the loads and stresses on the vehicle during ascent and reentry.
          These sensors fed into the OEX box, which recorded the data on
          magnetic tape. Columbia was the only orbiter with an OEX recorder. And
          quite coincidentally, the box was going to be removed after STS-107 in
          order to save weight as part of Columbia‘s refit to fly a supply
          mission to the International Space Station.




          Note OEX (Orbiter EXperiments) recorder is another name for the MADS recorder.



          This wasn't a traditional "black box" though; it wasn't intended to be survivable, and Columbia was the only orbiter that had the system. It was a left-over from testing when Columbia was the first shuttle and was being checked out in flight.



          The press at the time often referred to it as "Columbia's black box" but that was not really accurate.



          Extra reading and source of quote






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          • 2




            Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
            – Rory Alsop
            yesterday

















          up vote
          20
          down vote













          While there is onboard recording, the significant difference between launches of space craft and those of aircraft is the extensive realtime telemetry used in rocket launches.



          Every piece of data that can be sent live to the ground station is sent. This is essential in an endeavour which is still incredibly dangerous and with high odds of destruction or at least non-retrieval of wreckage (because it blows up, remains in space, or burns up on re-entry, out is lost in the depths of the Pacific)



          So yes - there is often the equivalent of black box, but that is not relied upon and is not the main storage of data.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Another example: The Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight is going to be equipped with a series of Ejectable Data Recorders (EDR) to return telemetry on the flight in case the main telemetry downlink (a radio link) partially or completely fails.






            share|improve this answer




















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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              29
              down vote













              Key data for the Columbia accident investigation was provided by recovery of the MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder which amazingly survived reentry and was found largely intact.



              enter image description here



              The MADS recorder captured crucial engineering data that wasn't sent to the ground through telemetry.




              As the first spaceworthy orbiter, Columbia was instrumented with
              hundreds of sensors—strain gauges, temperature probes, and the like—to
              study the loads and stresses on the vehicle during ascent and reentry.
              These sensors fed into the OEX box, which recorded the data on
              magnetic tape. Columbia was the only orbiter with an OEX recorder. And
              quite coincidentally, the box was going to be removed after STS-107 in
              order to save weight as part of Columbia‘s refit to fly a supply
              mission to the International Space Station.




              Note OEX (Orbiter EXperiments) recorder is another name for the MADS recorder.



              This wasn't a traditional "black box" though; it wasn't intended to be survivable, and Columbia was the only orbiter that had the system. It was a left-over from testing when Columbia was the first shuttle and was being checked out in flight.



              The press at the time often referred to it as "Columbia's black box" but that was not really accurate.



              Extra reading and source of quote






              share|improve this answer
















              • 2




                Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
                – Rory Alsop
                yesterday














              up vote
              29
              down vote













              Key data for the Columbia accident investigation was provided by recovery of the MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder which amazingly survived reentry and was found largely intact.



              enter image description here



              The MADS recorder captured crucial engineering data that wasn't sent to the ground through telemetry.




              As the first spaceworthy orbiter, Columbia was instrumented with
              hundreds of sensors—strain gauges, temperature probes, and the like—to
              study the loads and stresses on the vehicle during ascent and reentry.
              These sensors fed into the OEX box, which recorded the data on
              magnetic tape. Columbia was the only orbiter with an OEX recorder. And
              quite coincidentally, the box was going to be removed after STS-107 in
              order to save weight as part of Columbia‘s refit to fly a supply
              mission to the International Space Station.




              Note OEX (Orbiter EXperiments) recorder is another name for the MADS recorder.



              This wasn't a traditional "black box" though; it wasn't intended to be survivable, and Columbia was the only orbiter that had the system. It was a left-over from testing when Columbia was the first shuttle and was being checked out in flight.



              The press at the time often referred to it as "Columbia's black box" but that was not really accurate.



              Extra reading and source of quote






              share|improve this answer
















              • 2




                Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
                – Rory Alsop
                yesterday












              up vote
              29
              down vote










              up vote
              29
              down vote









              Key data for the Columbia accident investigation was provided by recovery of the MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder which amazingly survived reentry and was found largely intact.



              enter image description here



              The MADS recorder captured crucial engineering data that wasn't sent to the ground through telemetry.




              As the first spaceworthy orbiter, Columbia was instrumented with
              hundreds of sensors—strain gauges, temperature probes, and the like—to
              study the loads and stresses on the vehicle during ascent and reentry.
              These sensors fed into the OEX box, which recorded the data on
              magnetic tape. Columbia was the only orbiter with an OEX recorder. And
              quite coincidentally, the box was going to be removed after STS-107 in
              order to save weight as part of Columbia‘s refit to fly a supply
              mission to the International Space Station.




              Note OEX (Orbiter EXperiments) recorder is another name for the MADS recorder.



              This wasn't a traditional "black box" though; it wasn't intended to be survivable, and Columbia was the only orbiter that had the system. It was a left-over from testing when Columbia was the first shuttle and was being checked out in flight.



              The press at the time often referred to it as "Columbia's black box" but that was not really accurate.



              Extra reading and source of quote






              share|improve this answer












              Key data for the Columbia accident investigation was provided by recovery of the MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder which amazingly survived reentry and was found largely intact.



              enter image description here



              The MADS recorder captured crucial engineering data that wasn't sent to the ground through telemetry.




              As the first spaceworthy orbiter, Columbia was instrumented with
              hundreds of sensors—strain gauges, temperature probes, and the like—to
              study the loads and stresses on the vehicle during ascent and reentry.
              These sensors fed into the OEX box, which recorded the data on
              magnetic tape. Columbia was the only orbiter with an OEX recorder. And
              quite coincidentally, the box was going to be removed after STS-107 in
              order to save weight as part of Columbia‘s refit to fly a supply
              mission to the International Space Station.




              Note OEX (Orbiter EXperiments) recorder is another name for the MADS recorder.



              This wasn't a traditional "black box" though; it wasn't intended to be survivable, and Columbia was the only orbiter that had the system. It was a left-over from testing when Columbia was the first shuttle and was being checked out in flight.



              The press at the time often referred to it as "Columbia's black box" but that was not really accurate.



              Extra reading and source of quote







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered yesterday









              Organic Marble

              47.2k2120201




              47.2k2120201







              • 2




                Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
                – Rory Alsop
                yesterday












              • 2




                Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
                – Rory Alsop
                yesterday







              2




              2




              Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
              – Rory Alsop
              yesterday




              Thank you so much - I was trying to remember MADS and it evaded my aging memory!
              – Rory Alsop
              yesterday










              up vote
              20
              down vote













              While there is onboard recording, the significant difference between launches of space craft and those of aircraft is the extensive realtime telemetry used in rocket launches.



              Every piece of data that can be sent live to the ground station is sent. This is essential in an endeavour which is still incredibly dangerous and with high odds of destruction or at least non-retrieval of wreckage (because it blows up, remains in space, or burns up on re-entry, out is lost in the depths of the Pacific)



              So yes - there is often the equivalent of black box, but that is not relied upon and is not the main storage of data.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                20
                down vote













                While there is onboard recording, the significant difference between launches of space craft and those of aircraft is the extensive realtime telemetry used in rocket launches.



                Every piece of data that can be sent live to the ground station is sent. This is essential in an endeavour which is still incredibly dangerous and with high odds of destruction or at least non-retrieval of wreckage (because it blows up, remains in space, or burns up on re-entry, out is lost in the depths of the Pacific)



                So yes - there is often the equivalent of black box, but that is not relied upon and is not the main storage of data.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  20
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  20
                  down vote









                  While there is onboard recording, the significant difference between launches of space craft and those of aircraft is the extensive realtime telemetry used in rocket launches.



                  Every piece of data that can be sent live to the ground station is sent. This is essential in an endeavour which is still incredibly dangerous and with high odds of destruction or at least non-retrieval of wreckage (because it blows up, remains in space, or burns up on re-entry, out is lost in the depths of the Pacific)



                  So yes - there is often the equivalent of black box, but that is not relied upon and is not the main storage of data.






                  share|improve this answer












                  While there is onboard recording, the significant difference between launches of space craft and those of aircraft is the extensive realtime telemetry used in rocket launches.



                  Every piece of data that can be sent live to the ground station is sent. This is essential in an endeavour which is still incredibly dangerous and with high odds of destruction or at least non-retrieval of wreckage (because it blows up, remains in space, or burns up on re-entry, out is lost in the depths of the Pacific)



                  So yes - there is often the equivalent of black box, but that is not relied upon and is not the main storage of data.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered yesterday









                  Rory Alsop

                  9,43924072




                  9,43924072




















                      up vote
                      4
                      down vote













                      Another example: The Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight is going to be equipped with a series of Ejectable Data Recorders (EDR) to return telemetry on the flight in case the main telemetry downlink (a radio link) partially or completely fails.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        Another example: The Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight is going to be equipped with a series of Ejectable Data Recorders (EDR) to return telemetry on the flight in case the main telemetry downlink (a radio link) partially or completely fails.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote









                          Another example: The Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight is going to be equipped with a series of Ejectable Data Recorders (EDR) to return telemetry on the flight in case the main telemetry downlink (a radio link) partially or completely fails.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Another example: The Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight is going to be equipped with a series of Ejectable Data Recorders (EDR) to return telemetry on the flight in case the main telemetry downlink (a radio link) partially or completely fails.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 7 hours ago









                          Erin Anne

                          2,101325




                          2,101325



























                               

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