SpaceX Tuesday...
Discussion
Flooble said:
Those numbers do suggest that there is no way space travel will ever be as routine as aviation had become even by the 1920s.
I think it eventually will do but it will inevitably take longer due to the complex nature of space flight. The fact that SpaceX are aiming for reusable rockets will certainly help as to make it reusable it obviously has to be more reliable and repeatable. The NASA/russian flights only really had to make it into space with only a small part coming back which didn't have to be reusable (not sure if space capsules were reused..). RizzoTheRat said:
I think it's still a ablative shield on the dragon capsules isn't it? PICA-X stands for <something> Impregnated Carbon Ablator. Or did they change it for the Dragon 2/Crew Dragon?
These new ablative heatshield are replaceable. Most new design space capsules feature a combination of replaceable ablative heatshield (on the base) and a ceramic surface (on the side). That's what makes the capsule capable of being reused.The old generation of capsules had what was effectively a glass fibre heatshelid incorporated into a honeycomb structure on the base. There was little side protection so the capsule was damaged beyond further use during re-entry.
The Mercury and Gemini capsules (both built by McDonnell) had a heat resistant metal shingle construction on the capsule sides (the Apollo capsule didn't). This meant, in theory, that the Gemini capsule could have been made reusable if they had made the ablative base replacable. In fact, one Gemini capsule WAS used twice - but both on unmanned missions.
In January 1965, Gemini 2 was an unmanned test of the Gemini capsule and the capsule was recovered successfully. In 1966, the only flight in the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) programme was made. The Gemini spacecraft used was the refurbished capsule from Gemini 2. The spacecraft was recovered successfully so it shows that Gemini could have been turned into a reusable spacecraft. But MOL was cancelled and after Gemini 12 flew in late 1966, no more Gemini capsules flew into space.
It's Phenolic by the way - the "P" in PICA.
I'm not sure why the capsules have gone back to ablative instead of re-usable heatshields. Presumably the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon, used on the hotspots of the Shuttle, would not cope with a splashdown. Come to think of it, I imagine it's quite abusive for any material going from toasty hot to quenching in the sea.
I'm not sure why the capsules have gone back to ablative instead of re-usable heatshields. Presumably the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon, used on the hotspots of the Shuttle, would not cope with a splashdown. Come to think of it, I imagine it's quite abusive for any material going from toasty hot to quenching in the sea.
Flooble said:
It's Phenolic by the way - the "P" in PICA.
I'm not sure why the capsules have gone back to ablative instead of re-usable heatshields. Presumably the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon, used on the hotspots of the Shuttle, would not cope with a splashdown. Come to think of it, I imagine it's quite abusive for any material going from toasty hot to quenching in the sea.
The tiles used on the Shuttle were very fragile, so probably wouldn't survive a water landingI'm not sure why the capsules have gone back to ablative instead of re-usable heatshields. Presumably the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon, used on the hotspots of the Shuttle, would not cope with a splashdown. Come to think of it, I imagine it's quite abusive for any material going from toasty hot to quenching in the sea.
Meanwhile in Washington DC, moves are afoot to reopen NASA's Human Lander System competition. The losers weren't too happy about missing out and are calling in their political markers.
Introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington State (home of Boeing & Blue Origin/Amazon, coincidentally), an amendment directs NASA to fund development of “not fewer than 2 entities” in the Human Lander System program. The amendment, known as the Space Preservation and Conjunction Emergency (SPACE) Act of 2021 was passed by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (which Cantwell chairs) on May 12th.
If this is enacted into law by Congress proper, it puts NASA in quite a bind. 30 days isn't long for them to do anything & they certainly can't re-run it. The GAO (Government Accountability Office) are still investigating the initial complaints from losers Blue Origin & Dynetics & they're not due to report until 4th August.
Even if they pick one of the two losers (likely Blue Origin since Dynetic's bid was “significantly higher” than even Blue Origin's), the other one is still going to kick off.
Then there's the matter of funding. NASA went with only one provider (SpaceX) because Congress only gave them a quarter of the budget they requested. Congress will need to print more money if they want to pay for all this largesse.
Introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington State (home of Boeing & Blue Origin/Amazon, coincidentally), an amendment directs NASA to fund development of “not fewer than 2 entities” in the Human Lander System program. The amendment, known as the Space Preservation and Conjunction Emergency (SPACE) Act of 2021 was passed by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (which Cantwell chairs) on May 12th.
If this is enacted into law by Congress proper, it puts NASA in quite a bind. 30 days isn't long for them to do anything & they certainly can't re-run it. The GAO (Government Accountability Office) are still investigating the initial complaints from losers Blue Origin & Dynetics & they're not due to report until 4th August.
Even if they pick one of the two losers (likely Blue Origin since Dynetic's bid was “significantly higher” than even Blue Origin's), the other one is still going to kick off.
Then there's the matter of funding. NASA went with only one provider (SpaceX) because Congress only gave them a quarter of the budget they requested. Congress will need to print more money if they want to pay for all this largesse.
They’ve been assembling a giant crane at the launch site. This will be used to lift the the launch tower segments into place.
This crane is “Kong”, a Liebherr LR-11350, which is huge, but not Liebherr’s largest model. I believe that’s the LR-13000, seen in this publicity photo lifting a LR-11350 and a few more cranes simultaneously.
Here’s the video of that event:
https://youtu.be/mVCocSSIkRQ
This crane is “Kong”, a Liebherr LR-11350, which is huge, but not Liebherr’s largest model. I believe that’s the LR-13000, seen in this publicity photo lifting a LR-11350 and a few more cranes simultaneously.
Here’s the video of that event:
https://youtu.be/mVCocSSIkRQ
Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 16th May 22:42
There are quite a few unofficial Lego ones, of varying sizes.
https://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/12/27/fully-fu...
https://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/12/27/fully-fu...
Beati Dogu said:
They’ve been assembling a giant crane at the launch site. This will be used to lift the the launch tower segments into place.
This crane is “Kong”, a Liebherr LR-11350, which is huge, but not Liebherr’s largest model. I believe that’s the LR-13000, seen in this publicity photo lifting a LR-11350 and a few more cranes simultaneously.
Here’s the video of that event:
https://youtu.be/mVCocSSIkRQ
Another one has arrived, so they are assembling 2This crane is “Kong”, a Liebherr LR-11350, which is huge, but not Liebherr’s largest model. I believe that’s the LR-13000, seen in this publicity photo lifting a LR-11350 and a few more cranes simultaneously.
Here’s the video of that event:
https://youtu.be/mVCocSSIkRQ
Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 16th May 22:42
Dog Star said:
I have never yet managed 
This is what happens when you live in the pennines; clear skies are rare.
It was only partially clear over Farnborough but there were sufficient gaps in the clouds to enable me to see it. I had assumed it was too long after sunset for the rocket to be illuminated so I was rather surprised that it was visible. This is what happens when you live in the pennines; clear skies are rare.Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 17th May 11:36
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