SpaceX Tuesday...

[Mojocvh]

Launch the rocket, release the spacecraft, land the rocket on a boat!

Hah, go for it SpaceX!!

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Keeping a falling cylinder stable whilst it plummets back to earth is problem number 1 - i.e. preventing it from tumbling. They seem to have cracked that bit.

The second problem is slowing it down to the point where it is essentially stopped in mid air - balancing on its rocket exhaust.

The third problem is ensuring the guidance brings it back to a pinpoint spot i.e. the landing barge.

It's a tough set of parameters they have to meet.

Yes agreed Eric, but this video is just amazing....earlier tests including the hover and return to pad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Mojocvh said:

Yes agreed Eric, but this video is just amazing....earlier tests including the hover and return to pad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY

It's getting the thing slowed down enough from its fall from 30 odd miles up that I think is the REALLY hard part. Once you've got it down to a falling velocity of around 20 mph you are almost there.

Good point Eric, if using the engines all the way they will need fuel to do so. So it will have to take it[the fuel] with it.

Hmm..First Texaco "station" in orbit??

[Mojocvh]

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Oh bugger.

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Whatever it was called it was a very interesting bit of footage and the first time I'd seen it - so thanks for finding it. It is very interesting to compare this early version of the Launch Escape System LES technology with the modern descendant being used on Orion - which they call the Launch Abort System.

Last week, I listened to an excellent lecture by the leaders of the team who have designed the Orion LAS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uhfD3nEWNM

Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 6th February 18:32

Nice link Eric, thanks for posting it..

[Mojocvh]

XIV ??

[Mojocvh]

So close, so close.

I do have to wonder if they have reached that systems peak performance though, if that is the case then it may be a bigger problem that we think just now.

Hope not, this IS inspirational stuff indeed.

[Mojocvh]

Brilliant! the second stage nozzle downlink video was kind of mesmerising!!

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Their sense of humour is excellent

Quotes from Ian Banks Culture series Eric.

[Mojocvh]

Bugger. watched that on livestream was it due to separate around then?

[Mojocvh]

Was watching it on my mobile didn't catch the malfunction I must admit it didn't seem to go up quickly from the pad but that is pure speculation on my part...

[Mojocvh]

MartG said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZJDd6OvEM&fe...

Looks like the failure was at the top of the 1st stage, or maybe the 2nd stage - the engines keep burning until the final breakup

Hence my question re stage separation timings..No doubt all become clear soon.

[Mojocvh]

Ah.. the fairing at the base is being burnt through from the inside?

Good Spot Eric!

[Mojocvh]

Just watched the final moments again full sized it does seem that the vehicle had some kind of mechanical failure near the top half of the structure...

...@ 00:17 of video below there is an object in the "cloud" of fuel... best seen full screen...

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4326637139001/unmanned-...

[Mojocvh]

Some interesting comments and info at the bottom of this article..

http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/07/01/data-not-debr...

[Mojocvh]

p1stonhead said:

MartG said:

The culprit

These are the struts believed to have failed. They actually hold the helium tanks down against their buoyancy when immersed in liquid oxygen - the failure of one would allow the He tank to float up inside the tank.

Edited by MartG on Tuesday 21st July 12:14

Shows how much of a loser I am I thought that was a picture of that movie Stargate

I think your looking at actual Liquid Oxygen; it seems to have similar colour to the stuff [lox] we used in bulk storage awesome image from inside a rocket stage in flight.

[Mojocvh]

a setback, nothing more, and an opportunity to further improve their vehicles and engineering mindsets...

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Very good that they pinned the problem down so quickly. Let's hope they get back on track without too much delay.

Quite incredible that they used accelerometers as acoustic sensors to triangulate "where the noise" came from...

[Mojocvh]

Toaster said:

Mojocvh said:

Quite incredible that they used accelerometers as acoustic sensors to triangulate "where the noise" came from...

Not really it is an established technique

Really?

Could you point me towards some online information as I find the use of a primary sensor for a secondary purpose actually quite intriguing from an engineering perspective, thanks.

[Mojocvh]

To answer your question, I dont! I'm more accustomed to accelerometers being used for rate measurement in control systems.

However there is some "good stuff" there, thank you for listing them.

It is of course correct to call the sensors accelerometers I don't think calling them "knock sensors" would do them justice.

I had personal experience, a couple of years back, of incorrectly fitted "accelerometers" or as they were called g meters, in the nacells of wind turbines causing false warnings and shutdowns along with one case of actual tower vibration limits being exceeded, although it would have been more pleasant as a remote experience.;)

Thanks again for those links

Mo.

Edited by Mojocvh on Sunday 6th September 00:18