Author Topic: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight  (Read 130671 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

Very sad news...

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/dream-chaser-landing-failure-first-flight/

We're covering what we can in L2 via various sources (nothing official out there for this test before and after) and hopefully it's not as bad as feared per repairing her.
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Offline JBF

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #1 on: 10/26/2013 07:02 pm »
How many drop tests did they have planned for the ETA?
"In principle, rocket engines are simple, but that’s the last place rocket engines are ever simple." Jeff Bezos

Offline wkann

So basically it was some kind of Landing gear strut failure? 

Also, is the landing gear the same as it would use in flight, I thought a while back, I read that they were going to test Dreamchaser with F-16 landing gear and then change it over for spaceflight?
"It's our destiny to explore. It's our destiny to be a space-faring nation."- Eugene Cernan

Offline Silmfeanor

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #3 on: 10/26/2013 07:45 pm »
Very sad news. Thanks for breaking it and clarification.

Hope they can repair or otherwise rebound from this setback.

Offline vt_hokie

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #4 on: 10/26/2013 07:53 pm »
Curious to see if the vehicle is damaged beyond repair.  If the gear failed to deploy at all, I assume that's pretty catastrophic given the high stall speed and touchdown speed of a lifting body like this.  In any case, I'm also curious to see if we get any official word or footage from NASA/Sierra Nevada...
« Last Edit: 10/26/2013 07:53 pm by vt_hokie »

Offline Paul Adams

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #5 on: 10/26/2013 07:54 pm »
If it's a landing gear failure, that should be a relatively easy fix. The fact that she apparently flew well is FAR more important.
It's all in the data.

Offline Silmfeanor

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #6 on: 10/26/2013 08:19 pm »
If it's a landing gear failure, that should be a relatively easy fix. The fact that she apparently flew well is FAR more important.
Yes, that's true - an easy fix to design for.
But the point is, if the crash was serious enough, they might need to build a totally new test article.

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #7 on: 10/26/2013 08:23 pm »
Also, is the landing gear the same as it would use in flight, ...

No.

Offline IRobot

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #8 on: 10/26/2013 08:28 pm »
Carbon Fiber does not like impacts, it can snap easily.

Worst, it can have a hidden delamination, although AFAIK it is possible to scan for them.

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #9 on: 10/26/2013 08:35 pm »
She flew and that's what I'm focused on. The M2F2 crashed on landing and flew again, so will Dream Chaser...

http://www.therpf.com/f11/has-anyone-done-hl-10-lifting-body-54417/index10.html

"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #10 on: 10/26/2013 08:47 pm »
Successful release and orientation.

Successfully gained flying speed.

Successful pre-flare.

Successful flare.

Partial successful touchdown on one main due to mechanical failure.

She will fly again....

P.S. Thanks for the article Chris, I'm sure you didn't enjoy writing this one...
« Last Edit: 10/26/2013 11:33 pm by Rocket Science »
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline adrianwyard

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #11 on: 10/26/2013 08:48 pm »
If I were in the SNC PR department I'd probably pick up on the similarities with the Six Million Dollar Man opening sequence! "Eagle: we can rebuild her. Stronger. Faster...." you get the idea.

Here's the M2-F2 crash:

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #12 on: 10/26/2013 08:49 pm »
So basically it was some kind of Landing gear strut failure? 

Also, is the landing gear the same as it would use in flight, I thought a while back, I read that they were going to test Dreamchaser with F-16 landing gear and then change it over for spaceflight?
F-5 gear IIRC...
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #13 on: 10/26/2013 08:54 pm »
Adrian,

The M2F2 had a handling problem with roll control and was rebuilt with a central fin addition. Sounds like DC had no handling issues so far, still early days though...
« Last Edit: 10/26/2013 08:56 pm by Rocket Science »
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline adrianwyard

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #14 on: 10/26/2013 08:59 pm »
Right. It seems a good guess that DC's central fin is there in part due to that problem that showed in M2-F2 research. 46 years later.

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #15 on: 10/26/2013 09:01 pm »
Right. It seems a good guess that DC's central fin is there in part due to that problem that showed in M2-F2 research. 46 years later.
You bet!  ;)
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Kaputnik

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #16 on: 10/26/2013 10:22 pm »
Do we expect to see any video/pics of the test- the good or the bad.
"I don't care what anything was DESIGNED to do, I care about what it CAN do"- Gene Kranz

Offline Jeff Lerner

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #17 on: 10/26/2013 10:33 pm »
Any thoughts on whether the mechanical failure of the landing gear might be related to a too fast, out of nominal landing speed, perhaps even an uneven touchdown on the mains related to a landing flare problem ???...I know this is entirely speculation but it seems that a strut failure would have shown up in some testing....Im guessing the strut failed due to some landing gear impact that exceeds the maximum designed capabilities of the strut...

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #18 on: 10/26/2013 10:40 pm »
Unlikely.

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Dream Chaser suffers landing failure after first flight
« Reply #19 on: 10/26/2013 10:41 pm »
Do we expect to see any video/pics of the test- the good or the bad.

I'll be in the minority and predict we'll eventually see some video.

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