Author Topic: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3  (Read 300629 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

Thread 3 for McGregor testing. Please keep specific to the thread title. Make sure your post is useful and adds to the thread. The last one was viewed in the six figure range again, so remember when you post, your post will be seen by a heck of a lot of people, so don't disappoint them!

Thread 1:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28332.0

Thread 2:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32202.0

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Related News Articles - for Merlin 1D (articles include links to Grasshopper etc...but we'll keep this thread on the firings):

SpaceX joy at Merlin 1D test:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/06/spacex-merlin-1d-orbital-fire-aj-26-engine/

Falcon 9 boost as Merlin 1D engine achieves major milestone:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/03/falcon-9-boost-merlin-1d-engine-achieves-milestone/

(Sister Articles:)

Testing times for SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 v.1.1:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/testing-times-spacexs-new-falcon-9-v-1-1/

And:

Reducing risk via ground testing is a recipe for SpaceX success:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/reducing-risk-ground-testing-recipe-spacex-success/

More followed that included McGregor references:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=McGregor

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Main L2 Thread for McGregor videos and photos:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34957.0
« Last Edit: 08/17/2014 12:01 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Online CraigLieb

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #1 on: 08/19/2014 10:11 pm »
Has anyone noticed or noted that there is a Wiki maps view of the Falcon Heavy test stand under construction at:
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=31.398056&lon=-97.461787&z=18&m=b



« Last Edit: 08/19/2014 10:12 pm by CraigLieb »
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Offline 411rocket

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #2 on: 08/19/2014 10:44 pm »
Has anyone noticed or noted that there is a Wiki maps view of the Falcon Heavy test stand under construction at:
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=31.398056&lon=-97.461787&z=18&m=b

That photo is older, as it shows grasshopper on the test pad & not F9R Dev1. I had scrolled, to check out that pad, for a timeframe.

Offline llanitedave

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #3 on: 09/06/2014 04:38 am »
My wife and I passed through McGregor today en route from central Texas to Arkansas, and she didn't kill me too badly when I peeled off our designated route and went looking for an impromptu back lot tour.

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos.  No great cameraman I, and the camera is cheap, too.  The first photo is a first stage on the upright test stand.  If you look at the base of of the stage, you can see the black paint that I'm assuming marks where the legs would be attached.  So this will be for a mission that attempts a landing, right?  I don't know how far in advance these stages are tested, so I can't guess which mission this one is intended for.

The second picture is Grasshopper relatively close and the stage in the background.  Too bad the F9-R Dev isn't around any more -- it would have been nice to see.

The last one was a real stroke of luck, both good and bad.  We were just starting to leave when an engine test fired up!  It was only about a 30 second firing, so by the time I got the camera back out it had ended, leaving only a dissipating puff of smoke and vapors from the water flood.  Acceptance test for a new engine, perhaps?  Very cool to see!  I just wish I could have gotten a picture!
« Last Edit: 09/06/2014 04:40 am by llanitedave »
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Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #4 on: 09/06/2014 06:54 am »
What's this big structure on the third photo?

Offline mvpel

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #5 on: 09/06/2014 01:03 pm »
It's the engine test stand - see below.

And how lucky is that!! I hung around for hours getting sunburned hoping to catch an engine test. I was so hopeful when I saw the O2 clouds, but it turned out they were just testing a valve. Perhaps the 3D-printed one? Who knows.

« Last Edit: 09/06/2014 01:08 pm by mvpel »
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Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #6 on: 09/06/2014 06:14 pm »

The first photo is a first stage on the upright test stand.  If you look at the base of of the stage, you can see the black paint that I'm assuming marks where the legs would be attached.  So this will be for a mission that attempts a landing, right?  I don't know how far in advance these stages are tested, so I can't guess which mission this one is intended for.


Am I remeber correctly that the first stage of CRS-4 already had been moved to Cape?
If this is the case it should be the stage assigned to the (until now unknown) launch after CRS4.

(If an answer would turn into a discussion about which is the next launch after CRS4, we should continue it in the launch manifest thread...)



Online somepitch

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #7 on: 09/10/2014 04:35 am »
The only core that has had black paint around the legs has been F9RDev1 right?

Any chance this is the replacement, or maybe the core for the barge landing and that the black is ablative coating?

Offline Lars-J

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #8 on: 10/04/2014 12:32 am »
SpaceX tweeted about McGregor, with a picture: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/518194518676348928

Quote
SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Our TX site averages around 2 tests per day, but the 9-engine hotfires are a clear favorite!

Offline AJW

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Offline Robotbeat

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #10 on: 10/17/2014 04:39 am »
Is that CRS-5?
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

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Offline Geron

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #11 on: 10/17/2014 04:46 am »
This is the first raptor test!?

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #12 on: 10/17/2014 04:50 am »
This is the first raptor test!?
No, surely not. They haven't tested the parts, yet. "Louder than usual" means a 9-engine F9 first stage test so far.
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Offline rpapo

This is the first raptor test!?
No, surely not. They haven't tested the parts, yet. "Louder than usual" means a 9-engine F9 first stage test so far.
And besides, the current plans have the Raptor being tested at Stennis, in a larger test stand with more distance away from normal human ears.
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline guckyfan

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #14 on: 10/17/2014 10:22 am »
And besides, the current plans have the Raptor being tested at Stennis, in a larger test stand with more distance away from normal human ears.

Stennis is for component testing. To my knowledge nothing has been said about full Raptor engine tests.

The new McGregor FH-Teststand seems well suited for full Raptor testing. Especially when they do plenty of acceptance testing.

Online docmordrid

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #15 on: 10/17/2014 11:54 am »
ISTM engine testing always runs the risk of a massive RUD, like what happened to AJR last spring with the AJ-26 but far worse with Raptor. Are we certain they want to risk damaging either the tripod or FH stand testing that beast? Seems that could mess with their launch flow.
« Last Edit: 10/17/2014 11:56 am by docmordrid »
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Offline JBF

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #16 on: 10/17/2014 11:57 am »
ISTM engine testing always runs the risk of a massive RUD, like what happened to AJR last spring with the AJ-26 but far worse with Raptor. Are we certain they want to risk.damaging either the tripod or FH stand testing that beast?
It's the only thing they have that's big enough. Nothing large enough at Stennis will be available near term and they haven't started on a new test stand anywhere else.
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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #17 on: 10/17/2014 12:05 pm »
Is the F-1 stand at Edwards still around? I know the one at  Marshall was demolished.
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Offline rpapo

Stennis is for component testing. To my knowledge nothing has been said about full Raptor engine tests.

The new McGregor FH-Teststand seems well suited for full Raptor testing. Especially when they do plenty of acceptance testing.
That may well be true, but I remember in the announcement them saying they would have to strengthen the test stand and modify it for methane.  The strengthening part implied (to me) that they would eventually do full up testing there too.
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline JBF

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Re: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3
« Reply #19 on: 10/17/2014 12:29 pm »
Is the F-1 stand at Edwards still around? I know the one at  Marshall was demolished.

Good point I forgot about those. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25057.0
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