No rocket launch is free of complications. With countless moving parts and harsh operating environments, rockets are miracles of human engineering sprinkled with a bit of luck. Something can always go wrong – especially for young companies and new rockets. With SpaceX’s first rocket, the Falcon 1, faults were discovered too late. Its first three launches ended in rapid unplanned disassemblies.

Luckily, Falcon 9 was a different story. On the new rocket’s second mission, SpaceX would launch the first complete Dragon capsule, a few cubesats, and a wheel of cheese. Needless to say, the launch was important. But just days before liftoff, SpaceX noticed a fault.

A fault that involves tin snips, a few cracks, and the laws of physics.