SpaceX And/Or Rocketry In General

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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We have :Quote:SpaceX is

We have :

Quote:
SpaceX is targeting launch of SES-10 from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two and a half hour launch window opens on Thursday, March 30, at 6:27 p.m. EDT, or 10:27 p.m. UTC. The satellite will deploy approximately 32 minutes after launch. A backup launch window opens on Saturday, April 1, at 6:27 p.m. EDT, or 10:27 p.m. UTC.

Today's window, wherever you are, opens in about 21 hours time. I prefer the technical webcast.

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

Chris S
Chris S
Joined: 27 Aug 05
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We are in a civilization that

We are in a civilization that has passed it's peak.

With repect I don't think I can agree with you there my good Sir! In terms of social parameters, wars, politics, then yes, technology wise I would say no.

Elon's efforts are an attempt to get some of us off planet before it all ***** up

And where would Billions of us go even in the next 100-500 years? the Moon?, Mars? The stars? No it's basically a rich boy playing with toys, but it does the USA a favour, because we don't need to rely on the Russians so much to supply the ISS. Congress reused NASA any more money to replace the shuttles, so we hitch rides from Moscow.

You and I won't be going to Mars but some young sprouts might get a shot. :-)

True, and if you have the cash you might even get a sub-orbital in even now in your lifetime.

Waiting for Godot & salvation :-)

Why do doctors have to practice?
You'd think they'd have got it right by now

archae86
archae86
Joined: 6 Dec 05
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Mike Hewson wrote:I prefer

Mike Hewson wrote:
I prefer the technical webcast.

The technical webcast went live a few minutes ago, though so far it is just generic synth music and starry background.

A couple of viewing tips:

1. You may be able to get more pixel resolution by clicking the settings "gear" and shifting the selection.  On the other hand your setup and connection may not support higher settings smoothly.

2. You may be viewing some delay behind real time depending on details of your startup and connection.  Someone at another forum advised that if you select (from the same setup gear) Speed to 1.25X it will go quicker until caught up, then relapse to 1X.  I just tried this and the music audibly quickened for a minute or two, then relapsed with a gap of a second or so. So maybe it works.

 

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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Joined: 1 Dec 05
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Credit: 316541876
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Epic validation of the re-use

Epic validation of the re-use concept ie. now a reality ! :-)

See the yellow glow on the uprange vane. It was burning, talk about hot !

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

archae86
archae86
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Even had the landing failed,

Even had the landing failed, it appears the first stage played the part needed for this launch just fine.

Pity the video dropped earlier than some other times, but seeing the returnee standing proud on the droneship was a joy.

Yes the grid fins got pretty toasty.  I think they were a little skimpy on the re-entry burn this time.  Good to explore what it will tolerate.

 

Betreger
Betreger
Joined: 25 Feb 05
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Great web cast but they

Great web cast but they missed the landing, the screen went black for a while then it was shown sitting on barge intact.

Anonymous

Some pics from the

Some pics from the backyard:

Through the trees:

 re_IMG_0033.JPG

Whew that was close! 

a bit higher

and down range

down range

archae86
archae86
Joined: 6 Dec 05
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Aviation Week published two

Aviation Week published two bits of information from the Blue Origin/Bezos effort I had not known before.  Both relate to using fluid dynamic control as a partial replacement of propulsive control.

1.  They plan to have "strakes" on the New Glenn first stage:

.  

That gives a bit of lift, when the vehicle is not squarely aligned to the air flow.  Lift means you can move the aim point, and thus compensate for more wind uncertainty using less fuel.

2. Similarly they plan to have their landing platform in motion at the moment of landing.  This allows something on the order of vanes to be used for some stabilization and positioning requirements.  While in principal this could mean smaller (cheaper) thruster engines I suspect the main goal is to allow landings in a higher sea state than otherwise feasible.

I like the thinking--which is clearly aimed at expanding the envelope of acceptable conditions, and thus increasing launch and recovery confidence, and at reducing cost.

It is easy to underestimate how much a rather small amount of lift can do for you if the initial vehicle speed is high.  Two examples:

1. Early Shuttle design concepts included engines with the goal of allowing useful landing site adjustment.  They noticed they could get so much more of this out of just using lift that it became pointless to include the engines.

2. JDAM uses strakes (small, and crude compared to the New Glenn concept) to allow navigation from the drop point to the target, including at least some range extension over a ballistic trajectory.

https://www.haf.gr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/gbu_31_jdam.jpg

 

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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I reckon they sacrificed the

I reckon they sacrificed the vane(s) to ensure enough landing fuel, and why not.

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

Anonymous

During the landing sequence

During the landing sequence it appeared that the right paddle was missing some of the "honeycomb" connectors/bridges.  It was at this point that the video went "away".  Anyone else notice?

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