SpaceX Updates (Thread 6)

[flyingskippy]

@jeff_foust:

Musk: F9 failure a huge blow to us. Data from failure seems difficult to interpret. Whatever happened was not straightforward.

8:31am - 7 Jul 15

Musk: no clear theory that matches all of the data. Still believe it is linked to overpressure event in upper stage LOX tank. #ISSRDC

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Two new articles...same info as flyingskippy gave us...but something to read anyway.......

 

 

 

BOSTON

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Another good article where Elon talks a bit about the process.....

 

 

Musk did not address how long the Falcon 9 rocket might be grounded in the aftermath of the accident while engineers find the cause and implement corrective actions. SpaceX officials have said they informed customers booked to fly on upcoming Falcon 9 launches to expect delays of a few months.

 

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

Make no mistake, my friends ... they will sort out what happened. They'll fix the problem and get back on track. And how much do we want to wager that the Factories are still in production, seeing as how there's nothing wrong with any of the other bits (such as the S1, Dragons, etc)? If it turns out to be that dodgy tank issue again (let's hope not ...), they can build everything but those and get orders ready to go uphill ASAP. Once the tank(s) have been sorted out, all should be well.

 

... unless they plan to go HUGE and fulfill several orders at once by flying a Falcon Heavy (out of the blue) with that new Multiple Delivery System. It wouldn't fix the ISS backlog, but it would sure make their Commercial Customers happy.

 

"Surprise! While we're waiting for the Falcon-9 problems to be sorted out .... heeeeeeeere's Johnny!". Heh.

 

Marty and the Wonder Workers are still itching to put that 60-minute turnaround challenge to the test.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This was a nice endorsement, by ESA, of SpaceX, during a French Parliament aerospace hearing.....

 

 

 

PARIS

[DocM]

SpaceX's Tom Mueller posted some updated Merlin 1D engine specs to Quora,

http://www.quora.com/Is-SpaceXs-Merlin-1Ds-thrust-to-weight-ratio-of-150+-believable

The Merlin 1D weighs 1030 pounds, including the hydraulic steering (TVC) actuators. It makes 162,500 pounds of thrust in vacuum. that is nearly 158 thrust/weight. The new full thrust variant weighs the same and makes about 185,500 lbs force in vacuum. You can do the math! BTW, I believe most other engines don't include the thrust vector control actuators in their F/W numbers.

Mueller has also moved from being SpaceX's VP of Propulsion Engineering to being their Propulsion Chief Technology Officer. From LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/thomas-mueller/3b/451/209

Experience

Propulsion Chief Technology Officer

Space Exploration Technologies

May 2014

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Elon Musk was at the NASA ISS R&D Conference in Boston this week. The video below shows a "fireside chat" and is quite interesting. Falcon talk (no new news) is in the start.....

 

 

http://spacenews.com/musk-says-communications-satellite-constellation-still-in-early-stages/

[DocM]

A key bit in the Q&A is that Raptor will be DEEPLY cryogenic, with both methane and LOX just above their freezing points. Typically cryogenic props are just below their boiling points. It'll be mostly printed using a titanium-Inconel alloy.

[DocM]

Google has updated their images of the SpaceX McGregor test site. Of particular interest is the underground test stand.

https://goo.gl/maps/HdFx4

[Blue-Vision]

A key bit in the Q&A is that Raptor will be DEEPLY cryogenic, with both methane and LOX just above their freezing points. Typically cryogenic props are just below their boiling points. It'll be mostly printed using a titanium-Inconel alloy.

That will kick up the thrust output quite substantially. The colder the fuel, the bigger the bang with regards to cryofuels, iirc. They'll need to find a way to keep the stuff cold like that by the time it's reaching the turbopump(s) and igniters so they can get the most bang for the buck, otherwise it's for naught. I'm sure they've worked that out by now.

[DocM]

That will kick up the thrust output quite substantially. The colder the fuel, the bigger the bang with regards to cryofuels, iirc. They'll need to find a way to keep the stuff cold like that by the time it's reaching the turbopump(s) and igniters so they can get the most bang for the buck, otherwise it's for naught. I'm sure they've worked that out by now.

Both turbos on Raptor will be pumping gases into the chamber, not liquids; one sides preburner will burn fuel rich and the other oxygen rich. These gases burn again in the combustion chamber.

That's how Full Flow Staged Combustion works (Russia calls it Gas-Gas), and one reason why none has ever flown before - previous US & Soviet efforts stopped short.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

One of these days, I hope we get a "biggy" for Raptor news from SpaceX...fingers crossed.....

[Blue-Vision]

Both turbos on Raptor will be pumping gases into the chamber, not liquids; one sides preburner will burn fuel rich and the other oxygen rich. These gases burn again in the combustion chamber.

That's how Full Flow Staged Combustion works (Russia calls it Gas-Gas), and one reason why none has ever flown before - previous US & Soviet efforts stopped short.

Oh MAN that's a tricky design to get right ... and knowing SpaceX, they've "cracked the code" and got it right in the "sweet spot". It's sure to be a thing of beauty.

 

It's gonna look (and sound) downright angry when it's tested.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

The colder, the better, to keep that nozzle within a temperature range that the "nozzle metallurgy" can handle. I would assume quite a gas expansion as well, on the way to the control valves......high temps everywhere after initial nozzle cooling entry......tough design to get right and control (optimize)....... 

[DocM]

And the educated guesses, based on statements by Musk and other primes, are that BFR's first stage will have 9-30 Raptors, depending on Raptors thrust level. It's going to be a fracking monster, and reusable.

That pad is gonna need some serious acoustic and blast suppression.

[DocM]

@elonmusk

Model S product call at 11 today. Rocket discussion at noon on Monday.

[TrevorLahey]

@elonmusk

Model S product call at 11 today. Rocket discussion at noon on Monday.

Any idea what type of Rocket discussion?  Raptor, or the crash a couple weeks ago?

I'm assuming it's Raptor since you added this in the Raptor thread, but just wanted to make sure.

[DocM]

This really isn't the Raptor thread, it's the general SpaceX news thread, though sometimes there are crossovers due to conversation flow. There's a separate Raptor thread.

That said, we don't know if this is about the Falcon 9 return to flight, Raptor, Mars or all of the above. I'd bet on F9 RTF, but with Elon Musk you never know where it'll end up.

[FloatingFatMan]

This really isn't the Raptor thread, it's the general SpaceX news thread, though sometimes there are crossovers due to conversation flow. There's a separate Raptor thread.

That said, we don't know if this is about the Falcon 9 return to flight, Raptor, Mars or all of the above. I'd bet on F9 RTF, but with Elon Musk you never know where it'll end up.

 

F9 RTF with a manned Mars mission next year!

 

Hey, with Elon... He might!

[TrevorLahey]

This really isn't the Raptor thread, it's the general SpaceX news thread, though sometimes there are crossovers due to conversation flow. There's a separate Raptor thread.

That said, we don't know if this is about the Falcon 9 return to flight, Raptor, Mars or all of the above. I'd bet on F9 RTF, but with Elon Musk you never know where it'll end up.

Sorry, I guess I didn't look at what thread I was on.  I was reading about raptor so I assumed and should have looked before I posted!

[DocM]

MEDIA ADVISORY:

SpaceX to Hold CRS-7 Update Telecon

Status Report From: SpaceX

Posted: Friday, July 17, 2015

SpaceX is hosting a 30-minute telecon for members of the media at noon PDT/3pm EDT on Monday, July 20 to discuss preliminary results to our investigation into the CRS-7 mishap.

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Lead Designer, will be the speaker. This call is on-the-record and will include a Q&A.

To participate in the press call, dial (844) 730-1974. The passcode is "SpaceX Call" and participants will be asked to provide their name and media affiliation. For international participants, dial (484) 653-6836.

// end //

[TrevorLahey]

Is the conference today livestreamed at all anywhere?

[DocM]

No. It's a media telecom, though someone's bound to record it. Chris at NSF is a participant.

[DocM]

A supplier built 24" x 1" strut which supports a helium COPV let go at 20% of its design rating, COPV rattles around, helium line ruptures, helium leaks out in large volumes and bad things happened.

Those parts WILL NOT be used again, and each of the new parts will be proof tested.

Return to flight no sooner than September.

[DocM]

Jeff Foust ?@jeff_foust