SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

By DocM
in Science News & Discussion

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SteveL

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Posted

It is like it had crushed under its own weight. I am not an engineer but if you have a tower built on 4mm thick steel and then add weight to the upper part you should be utterly sure that this structure can sustain it. And there were no nosecone on top of that. Something needs to be revised in this design. 

Grand Master

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29 minutes ago, slear said:

It is like it had crushed under its own weight. I am not an engineer but if you have a tower built on 4mm thick steel and then add weight to the upper part you should be utterly sure that this structure can sustain it. And there were no nosecone on top of that. Something needs to be revised in this design. 

It's could be a pressure issue, perhaps the lower tank lost pressure rather than it just simply being structurally too week to support the weight from above. 

 

This is the point of the prototypes though, testing scenarios to make sure designs can stand up to all of the various scenarios. I'm sure all rockets have gone through similar stages of testing. I think this is a different issue to the previous failure so hopefully it's a case of fixing one issue and moving on to a new one.

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Rising Star

flyingskippy

Posted
Posted

This has been SpaceX's philosophy from the very beginning. Test. Fix. Repeat. I'm just glad they decided to use SS and not carbon fiber. Quicker to build, cheaper, and easier to work with.  They probably would be bankrupt if they lost this many CF tanks.

Grand Master

DocM

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Posted (edited)
8 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said:

*cough* As I was saying... :p

 

It actually imploded, tank pressure was too low. They used  a new plumbing system and someone botched the software setup. 

 

The SN-03 engine section is being recycled for SN-04, which should start stacking this week or early next. 3 Raptor engines are on site.

Grand Master

DocM

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Posted (edited)

SN-04 progress diagram via @fael097

 

White is cargo/habitat barrel sections (upper) and the engine/landing gear skirt (lower), and unattached fins, utility chases, aero fairings etc.

 

SN-05 parts are already being build for stacking almost as soon as SN-04 is out of the High Bay 😎

 

 

IMG_20200413_124333.thumb.jpg.7fd5647b5e1bebc7812ef67c4fe2826c.jpg

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Grand Master

DocM

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Posted

mini-Tweetstorm

 

Everyday Astronaut @Erdayastronaut
Replying to @elonmusk and 8 others
I just caught up with @RocketLab’s @Peter_J_Beck about helicopter retrieving and it’s very exciting. They’re making great progress! I hope I can catch up with you again someday about Starship manufacturing! 
https://youtu.be/cdtQfSkrVUU 
|
Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
I have great respect for anyone who gets a rocket to orbit! It’s very hard. I’m spending crazy hours on Starship design/production. It is truly an honor to work with such great engineers. SN4 is almost done 😀
|
Everyday Astronaut @Erdayastronaut
Replying to @elonmusk and 9 others
It’s insane how quick SN4 is coming together. It makes sense when you build a factory AROUND your rockets (not vice versa), cool to see mass manufacturing taking an early lead in development vs one off prototyping. I hope when it’s closer to done I can get a tour from you 😉
|
Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
Production is by *far* the hard part. That’s why I’m not super worried about early Starship failures. Initial serial numbers are suboptimal, so would be lawn ornaments if they survived. That said, as lawn ornaments go, they’re pretty sweet 
||
Replying to @nextspaceflight and 10 others
SN4 won’t get flaps, so can only do flights with engine on. Just did a reset this week on flap, actuator & static aero design. Either SN5 or SN6 will get flaps.

 

Thread link

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1250612062989905921

Grand Master

DocM

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Posted (edited)

SN-04 now has two patches of hexagonal thermal protection tiles, upper tank and engine skirt,  the top patch about 1.5 meters wide (pixel counting).  Theyre testing the tile attachment studs during cryogenic fuel loading,  and vibration during Raptor engine tests.

 

The Roll Lift transporter has arrived, so it's almost time to go to the pad.

 

IMG_20200419_131329.thumb.jpg.a71b9a3706d33c64bce62f9aebca48d4.jpg

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