SpaceX Tuesday...

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MartG

20,696 posts

205 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Don't forget that SpaceX aren't the only ones looking at landing large spacecraft on Mars...

Lockheed Martin



https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/28/lockheed-martin-un...

And NASA's own 'biconic' lander


Kccv23highliftcam

1,783 posts

76 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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It's almost like their looking "outwards" for inspiration.

hehe

Eric Mc

122,093 posts

266 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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I'd still like them to explain how these craft actually work in regards to how they slow down and land safely on the surface.

The Biconic concept dates from 1984.

Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 4th October 22:03

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

255 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Nasa plan for people on Mars is back into the 2040s now, no budget no design for transport or landing etc.

It's not a plan it's a (pipe) dream.

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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On the subject of NASA dithering, there won't be any commercial crew flight tests this year now.

SpaceX's unmanned demo flight will now be in January 2019 and the first manned test flight in June.

Boeing's unmanned demo flight will be March and the first manned flight in August.


Definitely.. maybe.


https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2018/10/04/n...

MartG

20,696 posts

205 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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I wonder what has caused these latest delays

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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It's actually supposed to be down to docking space availability at the ISS.

Kccv23highliftcam

1,783 posts

76 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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Is the test flight [escape system] still on schedule?

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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The abort test is supposed to happen between the two demo launches. So Feb-May 2019.

The plan is to reuse the Dragon 2 capsule from the DM-1 launch, so it has to be after that one.

Toaster

2,939 posts

194 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Kccv23highliftcam said:
Design and up-scaling of Atmospheric re entry [Lenticular] Vehicles with Parachute Descent to surface.

Like the post it was answering..

..are you the forum moderator now?

In fact you probably don't realise that "others" have commented upon your, curmudgeonly, attitude lately.

Looking through your postings however it's becomes obvious you scorn new ideas, you are affronted when anyone else has the temerity to cross these boundaries that YOU have set.

See you've gone and made me sound like Toaster now. Hope your happy.

getmecoat




Edited by Kccv23highliftcam on Thursday 4th October 13:59
Happy days, good post and well observed smile

JustALooseScrew

1,154 posts

68 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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MartG said:
Don't forget that SpaceX aren't the only ones looking at landing large spacecraft on Mars...

Lockheed Martin

That looks so 'Thunderbirds' that I had to do a double take, but it seems they are looking 'seriously' at this

I guess (coz I ain't that clever), that there should be an advantage in that the Martian gravity is roughly 1/3 of Earth's - that's a lot of 'free' mass you can carry when you can get it into orbit from Earth.

In a world filled to the brim with 'Jeremy Kyles' it is astonishing that this research into space flight and exploration continues at such a pace.

It might not be at the pace we'd all love to see but at least it is happening.

Fascinating times - I wonder what my twelve year old son will witness when he gets to my age.


Eric Mc

122,093 posts

266 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Mars is just "wrong" for so many aspects of landing spacecraft softly onto the surface.

It's gravity is 1/3 of the earth - which is obviously some advantage regarding slowing a mass down to a safe soft landing speed - but it's not as good as it could be.

It does have an atmosphere which is also useful for slowing things down - but its atmosphere is very thin so the slowing down is nothing like as effective as earth's atmosphere (or even somewhere like Titan). However, it's substantial enough that the spacecraft needs to be heat protected

Using parachutes on Mars is also a problem because when the parachute deploys, the craft is still travelling at supersonic speeds. Earth parachute systems are never deployed at such speeds. NASA has been conducting supersonic parachute deployment tests over the past few years in an effort to work out materials and manufacturing techniques which will allow a parachute to deploy at over 800 mph without shredding itself. They have only been partially successful in these efforts.

In many ways, landing a craft on a world with no atmosphere (like the moon) is much easier.

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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The landing pad at Vandenberg awaits for the first time tonight....



It's only about 1,400 feet from the launch pad.

The Falcon 9 booster is being launched southwards, so it'll be coming back from the left in this photo.

They were supposed to be attempting a fairing recovery, but the sea is a bit riled up apparently, so that's not looking good. Recovery boat Mr Steven is still in harbour currently.

Launch is at 03:22 UK time on Monday 8th (Sunday at 19:22 Pacific Daylight Time).This is an instantaneous launch. so if it has to abort for any reason, the next attempt will be on Friday at the same time.



Eric Mc

122,093 posts

266 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Just watched Tim Dodd's channel for a recording of the lift off. It was too early in the morning for me to watch live.

Impressive stuff, as always.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

255 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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There's some incredible photography coming out from the launch

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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I love this picture from the very talented John Kraus:



It's a composite, taken by the same fixed camera & really shows how close the launch and landing pads are.

That's the second time that particular booster has flown, by the way.

Kccv23highliftcam

1,783 posts

76 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Beati Dogu said:
The abort test is supposed to happen between the two demo launches. So Feb-May 2019.

The plan is to reuse the Dragon 2 capsule from the DM-1 launch, so it has to be after that one.
Thank you.

One hell of a test btw. Max Q and all that..

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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This one from Trevor Mahlmann is pretty amazing as well:



Shows the launch, separation, maneuver, boost back, reentry and landing burns all in one long shutter exposure.


More here:

https://photos.tmahlmann.com/Rockets/SpaceX/SAOCOM...

rovermorris999

5,203 posts

190 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Great photos, inspiring stuff.

Beati Dogu

8,900 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Kccv23highliftcam said:
Thank you.

One hell of a test btw. Max Q and all that..
Yeah, I don't think the rocket is going to survive that one. Not that it matters this time of course.
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