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Rocket general questions 1

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rb1957

rb1957

Aerospace
Apr 15, 2005
15,742
From today's launch (nice launch, not so nice flight) of SpaceX ...
1) what gas are they venting ? can't think they've venting methane
2) how do they control pressure in the tanks ? do they have a bladder/balloon where they can add/remove gas/liquid (N2 ?)
3) they made a point of filling the header tanks (which would not be used) ... so they intended to dump a tank (small though it may be) full of methane into the Pacific ??
4) when they chill the plumbing and such before loading fuel, I assume they're only passing N2 through the system, and it doesn't hang around long (as it did when they did the cryo testing)

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.
 
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it was IMHO fricking awesome ! (particularly after a couple of failures)

It's impressive. Again, the science was done already by earlier engineers, SpaceX just did it with their booster stage, which is a neat concept making them reusable. Awesome was the Apollo lunar lander that did it on the first try (and all the subsequent tries), with much cruder automation (and a manual pilot override on the first one), or the Mariner missions that similarly did it on the first and second tries, fully automated, on a different planet. Granted, NASA didn't have a way to film the landing for us, and they've had some screwups since then...but that doesn't negate the awesomeness of those original landings.
 
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yes, on the scale of awesomeness not much will beat the Apollo 11 landing

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.
 
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This video is a look into the beehive that is SpaceX, Boca Chica... Normally this rapid pace would have to indicate corners cut. Hmmm, yep...

I wonder where the $$$$$$$$$$$$$s are coming from... and how deep the pockets are?

With all this activity, I'll bet a paycheck that the local population living around the launch site has a front-seat view of the end to their community. Progress???

This guy isn't Scott Manely... but definitely enthusiastic and


Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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btrueblood said:
So you did the plume analysis already?
Click to expand...
Or you could just say "I disagree because...."

Brad Waybright

The more you know, the more you know you don't know.
 
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200th SpaceX Booster landing at Vandenberg AFB. Easy-peasy...


Hmmmmm... looked like one-or-two of the landing legs got 'hung-up' temporarily... and finally deployed/locked... after the other legs were 'down/locked... 'just-in-time'... and somewhat out-of-sync with landing commentary.

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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Tonight I am recording [2] PBS NOVA shows... Should be exceptional NOVA episodes... well worth the 2-hours of my time... and related to this thread...

Back to the Moon

Rise of the Rockets

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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WKT said:
Hmmmmm... looked like one-or-two of the landing legs got 'hung-up' temporarily... and finally deployed/locked... after the other legs were 'down/locked... 'just-in-time'... and somewhat out-of-sync with landing commentary.
Click to expand...

If these legs are hydraulically deployed by a single pump the fluid will flow to whichever moves the most freely. It works a lot like an open differential in a car on a slippery surface. At least when the slippery leg reaches it's stop the fluid will start flowing to the next and keep things moving.

The key here is knowing the volume of fluid required to extend all 4 legs. The pump needs to supply this fluid within the required time. Regardless of how the legs respond individually, once that volume of fluid is pumped all legs will be extended.
 
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Yes... which makes me wonder why they don't have 5 legs. Perhaps they are confident that the current system is reliable enough.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
 
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And for fun...

Videos of the Delta Clipper vertical launch, vertical land demonstrator ~1990s



Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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Interesting article...

NASA offers details on commercial space capabilities agreements

Wealth of NASA knowledge, lessons-learned, etc is open for contractor access... based on individual agreements...
NASA selected seven companies June 15 for its Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 (CCSC-2) initiative.

Knowledge/experience = intangible power and cost avoidance...


Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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SpaceX submits Starship mishap report to the FAA
By Mike Wall published 5 days ago
The agency is reviewing the report now.

SpaceX and FAA have some 'splainin to do'... hope the report is concise and clear and no 'BS'...

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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why do you think the FAA has "some 'splainin' to do" ?

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.
 
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Rb...

So far the FAA has been 'mum' on this launch mishap... and appears to be allowing SpaceX to write the entire report... with nothing but FAA 'review'. And the FAA appears to be mum on the SpaceX operations and the local community. This process simply does NOT seem kosher.

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation, Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", HBA forum]
o Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand everything." -Anton Chekhov
 
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I'd've thought that NASA had more relevant experience and opinion.

I wonder if they'll change "Aviation" to "Aerospace" ? since the FAA is getting more involved in space.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.
 
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Ya gotta aviate before you get orbital...

But, yeah, why not involve the experts (NASA) in any failure/accident investigation...

And yes, that can be taken ironically or not...NASA certainly has experience in space accident investigations.
 
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