SpaceX Updates (Thread 8)

By DocM
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Grand Master

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1 minute ago, DocM said:

Since a joint SpaceX-NASA fix for the microcracking is said to be on the Block 5 vehicle, and only new cores will be used for astronaut rides, I doubt they'll need to be concerned.

True, and quite frankly, they don't need to be concerned with the block 3's. This sideshow has just forced NASA to "cover themselves just in case", which they are properly obliged to do.

 

:)

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BetaguyGZT

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Agree with all on this. Block-5 Falcon 9's are the ones being used for Crewed Dragon 2's, so there's going to only be "buckle up"'s and "yeehaa"'s all the way uphill. :yes:

 

And then SpaceX can focus on BFR/BFS (whatever they end up changing the name to -- because "ITS" isn't a very good name, per Elon, and they want to change it).

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Grand Master

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11 minutes ago, Unobscured Vision said:

Agree with all on this. Block-5 Falcon 9's are the ones being used for Crewed Dragon 2's, so there's going to only be "buckle up"'s and "yeehaa"'s all the way uphill. :yes:

 

And then SpaceX can focus on BFR/BFS (whatever they end up changing the name to -- because "ITS" isn't a very good name, per Elon, and they want to change it).

I kind of like ITS for acronyms...It's The Show!....Incredible Tall Spaceship...It's The Solution....If Terrified,Scream....:woot:

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PaulRocket

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A lot has happened since the last time I was on here. 

DocM could you give us any hints on how far away this big news is that you are teasing? 

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but do we have any idea what they learned from inspecting the landed cores, if they had any challenges refurbishing them or test firing them? Also with Block 5, what does easier to reuse mean?

Grand Master

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16 hours ago, Draggendrop said:

Very bad manners....insert +John avatar shaking finger at them....bad...bad bad bad...:woot:

Couldn't agree more!

 

I've heard SpaceX has finished the prelims for their spacesuit testing. Did I dream that or was it actually reported? Also, I assume it'll be an IVA? 

 

I'm thinking it'll be a bit like: 

tron.jpg

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Grand Master

DocM

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8 hours ago, PaulRocket said:

A lot has happened since the last time I was on here. 

DocM could you give us any hints on how far away this big news is that you are teasing? 

Can't. Maybe soon.

 

Quote

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but do we have any idea what they learned from inspecting the landed cores, if they had any challenges refurbishing them or test firing them? Also with Block 5, what does easier to reuse mean?

We've learned the JCSAT-14 core has endured no less than 8 successful unrefurbished (but cleaned) burns on the test stand, with a mass simulator the mass of an upper stage and satellite on top,  which says a helluva lot about Block 3. They'll probably keep putting it up until it fails.

 

Block 5 has a ton of upgrades including new landing legs, many reusability upgrades, helium system and COPV changes, yet another thrust boost (!), and even before Block 5 a test of recoverable fairing halves.

 

That's right kiddies, fairing halves which have a reaction control system and parafoils which can fly them to a sea landing for retrieval and reuse. 

 

Landed JCSAT 14 state test a few months ago. The T shaped yellow object with guy wires is the mass simulator. It just keeps on tickin'. It was tested again last month.

 

 

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PaulRocket

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21 hours ago, DocM said:

Can't. Maybe soon.

 

We've learned the JCSAT-14 core has endured no less than 8 successful unrefurbished (but cleaned) burns on the test stand, with a mass simulator the mass of an upper stage and satellite on top,  which says a helluva lot about Block 3. They'll probably keep putting it up until it fails.

 

Block 5 has a ton of upgrades including new landing legs, many reusability upgrades, helium system and COPV changes, yet another thrust boost (!), and even before Block 5 a test of recoverable fairing halves.

 

That's right kiddies, fairing halves which have a reaction control system and parafoils which can fly them to a sea landing for retrieval and reuse. 

 

Landed JCSAT 14 state test a few months ago. The T shaped yellow object with guy wires is the mass simulator. It just keeps on tickin'. It was tested again last month.

 

 

Interesting, definitely excited about the news without knowing what its about. 

Does cleaned mean just the engines? Would love to see what these babies look like when their cleaned. 

 

What are reusability upgrades? Things like easier swap ability of components like the engines and the cork heat shield? 

Really looking forward to the first reflight with SES-10.

Grand Master

DocM

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AFIK they've been cleaning off the engines and the inside of the Octaweb (engine bay/mount.) Likely replace eroded thermal protections. The core itself stays dirty.

 

Reusability upgrades include upgrading the thermal protection coatings in and outside of the engine bays - like replacing the cork with something tougher, replacing the thermal shield blankets around the upper nozzles with something more durable, further hardening of the helium system and COPV's, replacing the turbine design to eliminate microcracks,  .. a general toughening up.

 

Engines before cleaning. The white deposits are a residue from the TEA-TEB ignition fluids used to restart the boostback, re-ntry & landing engines (center, 6 and 12 o'clock.) You see it more on the external ring engines as the center engine burns longer and cooks the deposits off.

 

24175842635_c0d63a05bb_k.jpg

 

 

 

 

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Grand Master

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From the last batch, 5 in higher orbit, 1 in transfer, 4 in original placement. Every 2 to 3 days, one is being moved up. Still in the process between Iridium and it's insurer. Once the insurer is happy with functionality...away we go.

 

:)

Grand Master

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6 minutes ago, Unobscured Vision said:

They seem happy with their delivery. :yes: 

When the insurers are happy after this, and the next launch placement in approx April, they may go to 45 days between launches....hope so.

Grand Master

DocM

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Vandenberg still has to get their autonomous flight termination gear programmed now that Falcon 9 uses it. Should be wrapping up.

 

The base has been working on a major redoing since last summer; moved their buildings, new hardware and infrastructure etc. to support commercial operators. 

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BetaguyGZT

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I'm not so sure about automating the approval process though. Should still be humans in the loop -- sometimes there will be logistics going on that a department will be able to handle better than automation. For example, equipment arriving in the port that will cross through the no-go zones, or even visiting military vessels that are passing through. Don't need an incident.

 

Although I do agree that the approval process needs retooling and a serious overhaul to eliminate the bureaucracy (and thus save time), I think it could (and should) still have people there. :) 

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bguy_1986

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On ‎2‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 4:53 PM, DocM said:

Landed JCSAT 14 state test a few months ago. The T shaped yellow object with guy wires is the mass simulator. It just keeps on tickin'. It was tested again last month.

What's the point of the mass simulator if it's being held down?

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bguy_1986

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2 minutes ago, DocM said:

To simulate the mass loads on the first stage and interstage during a launch; upper stage, payload, fairing etc. 

Sorry.  I'm not sure I understand yet.

 

You put a car up on jacks and hit the gas, it's not going anywhere no matter how much mass is in the vehicle.  I'm just comparing that to a rocket that you clamp down, it's not going any where.  I don't understand why the mass loads matter (unless it's for vibrations or something like that).  I know a car and a rocket are very different, just an easy way to ask my question I think.

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BetaguyGZT

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It's also to help weigh the rocket down. Those guide wires, by themselves, and the clamps used at the bottom of the stage, are quite stressed during static firings and the mass simulators allow SpaceX to crank up the throttle without the rocket getting away from them. It's for safety, first and foremost.

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DocM

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The vertical and vibratory loads of an integrated rocket vehicle vs those of a bare lower stage are very different from a car racing it's engine on blocks.

 

In addition to safety, Falcon 9 doesn't use a separate chassis with tanks inside, it's a monocoque - the stressed skin IS the tank and the loads on top cause it to behave differently during the burn. There are accelerometers all over that stage measuring every vibration, deformation etc. looking for a variance outside of the allowed ranges.

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