Author Topic: SpaceX to begin testing on Reusable Falcon 9 technology this year  (Read 693394 times)

Offline kkattula

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IIRC, the first and second stage tanks are made in the same factory using the same tooling. Varying the length is easy. The diameter, not so much.

Offline Jim

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I was more thinking along the lines of later VTOL designs like the Phoenix and DC-X wich all had more or less short and stubby biconic shape,

DC-X had an conical aeroshell over cylindrical propellant tanks

Offline Jim

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IIRC, the first and second stage tanks are made in the same factory using the same tooling. Varying the length is easy. The diameter, not so much.

That also applies for all the handling equipment, GSE and facilities (pads, test stands, etc).  They are all set up for the current diameter.

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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DC-X had an conical aeroshell over cylindrical propellant tanks
Yeah right...

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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That also applies for all the handling equipment, GSE and facilities (pads, test stands, etc).  They are all set up for the current diameter.
Makes sense! Thanks for the info. I had not considered these things.

Offline Lars_J

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DC-X had an conical aeroshell over cylindrical propellant tanks
Yeah right...

You might want to reconsider that opinion.
« Last Edit: 11/23/2012 07:05 am by Lars_J »

Offline gospacex

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But you'll notice that the aspect ratio is still pretty pencil-like for the ones that aren't moved that way (aerodynamics).  Drag increases with area.

Yes, but tank weight decreases.

Most current rockets are skinny for one more reason: the easiest (financially) way to increase tank volume of an existing rocket is stretch, not diameter increase.

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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You might want to reconsider that opinion.
Sorry, I did not mean to be sarkastic when I said that. I was actually agreeing with you ;)

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