High School Why do rockets explode so easily when they tip over?

[Tech2025]

I've seen the SpaceX fail videos, even when they tip over on water the rockets still explode. Why?

 

[A.T.]

I've seen the SpaceX fail videos, ...

Why not post it?

 

[Tech2025]

Why not post it?

 

[A.T.]

Sometimes they destroy it deliberately, when it tilts. Sometimes it explodes for the same reason it initially tilted.

 

[Nugatory]

They're also not very strong/stiff under sideways bending loads. It doesn't take much to rupture the fuel tanks.

 

[Borg]

There would still be some fuel on board and, when they fall, the impact breaks the containers open. The fuel containers are only designed to withstand the rigors launches and landings. Making them impact-proof when they tip over would add tremendous amounts of weight and would serve no purpose because the rocket would be damaged scrap anyway.

 

[russ_watters]

They're also not very strong/stiff under sideways bending loads.

And these forces can come from the engines or aerodynamics...

...though I would hope they would program the engine gimballing not to tear apart the rocket if possible.