JF Mezei wrote:
However, with self destruct, won't debris be spread over greater
area and thus cause mroe damage instead of letting rocket fall on
the beach?

Presumably, with self-destruct engaged, all that fuel and oxidizer
will be burned-up at altitude rather than down on the ground. That is
probably a net win compared with having a still largely fueled rocket
hit the ground.

As I recall, the Chinese had a launch where one of their rockets
came-down in a populated area shortly after launch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_EnrVf9u8s
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2323/1 suggests the thing
came-down largely intact. It also would seem the vehicle never got
terribly high to begin with.

rick jones
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