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The Juno II rocket launch in 1959 spectacularly failed when the rocket did a U-turn after launch. The cause was two diodes touching due to vibration. After that, rocket components were often potted in plastic to prevent similar problems.

Video of launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=885as-VE50g&t=1446s Discussion of diodes: https://youtu.be/885as-VE50g?t=1688



Same for plenty of vehicles, early ECUs were often potted and the ones you see today sometimes still have a resin coating on the component side to harden the device against vibration.


How does one knew at that time that is the issue … must be a great detective work!


62 years ago. Just letting that sink in. (Thanks for the video links!)




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