Why do we still expect “successful failures” on rocket launches and not just scale up or scale down the same design on successful rocket ships and launch pads to make bigger or smaller ships with more stable structural material?

Question

Why do we still expect “successful failures” on rocket launches and not just scale up or scale down the same design on successful rocket ships and launch pads to make bigger or smaller ships with more stable structural material?

In: 1598

Answer 1

Short answer why are bikes shaped different than semi-trucks? because as you increase size things change significantly, materials and designs that work at lower power come apart at higher power.

So if you took a huge rocket and called it down then you’re going to end up with something very over engineered and expensive and heavy and if you scale up a small design they’ll just explode.

Also there’s always room for improvement so new ideas are always tested.