Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 1 Updates  (Read 638881 times)

Offline Kabloona

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1080 on: 12/08/2010 09:07 pm »
I get the feeling Marty will become a space celebrity.

I think his Christmas gift should be a pair of gold-plated tin (oops, niobium) snips on a plaque.

Offline mmeijeri

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1081 on: 12/08/2010 09:08 pm »
He's holding shears! He didn't cut corners, he cut a circumference.

In other words, he circumcised it...
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Offline nooneofconsequence

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1082 on: 12/08/2010 09:12 pm »
I get the feeling Marty will become a space celebrity.

I think his Christmas gift should be a pair of gold-plated tin (oops, niobium) snips on a plaque.
Cut up squares of that niobium nozzle excess might make valuable holiday gifts to members of congress.

Although I think that Hutchinson and Shelby should each be gifted a roll of toilet paper - whatever kind is used on the ISS ...
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something" - Plato

Offline mmeijeri

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1083 on: 12/08/2010 09:21 pm »
Although I think that Hutchinson and Shelby should each be gifted a roll of toilet paper - whatever kind is used on the ISS ...

Heh. Don't forget Nelson. As for an appropriate gift, in the light of Musk's comments I think a shrubbery would nice. One that looks nice. And not too expensive.
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Offline Dappa

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1084 on: 12/08/2010 09:21 pm »
About the little fire incident at liftoff:

It looks like the umbilical in question didn't separate properly, as can be seen in this picture.
All umbilicals but one have separated. Also note the cable between the strongback and the umbilical attachment point, which has little slack left.

The next picture shows the umbilical snapping, probably because the cable started pulling on the attachment. Fuel is already escaping the umbilical.

Source of pictures:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49734
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49735

Offline ugordan

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1085 on: 12/08/2010 09:24 pm »
Never mind the fire, look at this image: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49739

No wonder why the left arm of the strongback was invisible in pad footage after liftoff. Looks like they have some beefing up to do.

Offline corrodedNut

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1086 on: 12/08/2010 09:26 pm »
Never mind the fire, look at this image: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49739

No wonder why the left arm of the strongback was invisible in pad footage after liftoff. Looks like they have some beefing up to do.

Oh, snap.

Offline mmeijeri

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1087 on: 12/08/2010 09:29 pm »
Anything Ares I can do, Falcon can do - better!
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Offline Cog_in_the_machine

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1088 on: 12/08/2010 09:34 pm »
Anything Ares I can do, Falcon can do - better!

Not defending the stick or anything, but at this point such observations are like beating a horse run over by a steamroller. Twice. Just let this chapter of space history close.
^^ Warning! Contains opinions. ^^ 

Offline DLR

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1089 on: 12/08/2010 09:35 pm »
Haha, SpaceX brings a full launch system with return capability to completion for approximately 1 Billion in funding!

This makes NASA look extremely bad, considering how much they planned in for the Ares I and still plan in for a heavy lifter.

This is a great day for space exploration.

Offline Dappa

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1090 on: 12/08/2010 09:42 pm »
Never mind the fire, look at this image: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49739

No wonder why the left arm of the strongback was invisible in pad footage after liftoff. Looks like they have some beefing up to do.
Wich might actually be caused (in part) by the little fire: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49733
You see how the spilled fuel forms a trail through the left arm of the strongback? I believe it is aluminium, so not that great at withstanding high temperatures. A fire could cause it to weaken significantly.

Also, the arms that didn't have fuel trails through them (the right arm, both arms at F9's first flight) have survived liftoff, apparently without a scratch.
« Last Edit: 12/08/2010 09:43 pm by Dappa »

Offline iamlucky13

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1091 on: 12/08/2010 09:43 pm »

Offline mmeijeri

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1092 on: 12/08/2010 09:50 pm »
Not defending the stick or anything, but at this point such observations are like beating a horse run over by a steamroller. Twice. Just let this chapter of space history close.

True, I was just joking about trashing ground structures. That's not actually a good thing.
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Offline ugordan

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1093 on: 12/08/2010 09:59 pm »
Wich might actually be caused (in part) by the little fire: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49733

The perspective is misleading there. I don't think the flame had anything to do with it. See this image: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/02.jpg

I think it's simply a result of the engine backblast hitting the strongback hard. The vehicle got off the pad in a slightly different way than last time and portion of the strongback got peppered.

To be honest, I was kind of expecting both arms to be snapped off during the first launch, they did/do look fragile.

Offline ChuckC

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1094 on: 12/08/2010 10:05 pm »
Once again Space X has proven that it has the right stuff.

Go Space X Go!

Offline Dappa

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1095 on: 12/08/2010 10:15 pm »
Wich might actually be caused (in part) by the little fire: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=49733

The perspective is misleading there. I don't think the flame had anything to do with it. See this image: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/02.jpg
If you look a little more closely at the image you provided, you'll see that the flame has not consumed the entire cloud of RP-1. It started burning at the engines and still has to go through the rest of the cloud. The top(unburned) half of the RP-1 cloud is located in the left arm, or right from this perspective. A fraction of a second later, the arm would be in big fireball.

This supports my opinion that the arm was weakened by the fire.

Offline awalters

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1096 on: 12/08/2010 10:23 pm »
Congrats to SpaceX!

This is from a sound activated remote camera about 2000 feet away

Alan Walters
Awaltersphoto.com

Offline docmordrid

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1097 on: 12/08/2010 11:36 pm »
Just finished listening to Shotwell's statement at the presser. 

LZ was 60x20 km, and Dragon landed 800m from the ships.

NICE shooting, Tex ;)
DM

Offline neilh

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1098 on: 12/08/2010 11:49 pm »
Congrats to SpaceX!

This is from a sound activated remote camera about 2000 feet away

Alan Walters
Awaltersphoto.com

Wow!
Someone is wrong on the Internet.
http://xkcd.com/386/

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: COTS Demo 1
« Reply #1099 on: 12/09/2010 12:22 am »
So when does the COTS Demo 2 thread start?

Are we looking at another seven months between Falcon 9 launches or longer? Jim care to make a prediction?
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