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starsilk
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« Reply #1111 on: 07/12/2012 03:13 AM » |
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another one.. presumably NDAs are expiring. http://www.space-travel.com/reports/SpaceX_Dragon_Utilizes_Cooper_Interconnect_Non_Explosive_Actuators_999.htmlCooper Interconnect has announced that Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) utilized Cooper Interconnect non-explosive actuators on the Dragon Spacecraft to support the mission to become the first commercial vehicle in history to attach to the International Space Station.
The non-explosive actuators were installed on the Dragon capsule to facilitate a broad range of mission-critical functionality including nose-cone deployment needed to expose the docking adapter, release of the trunk before re-entry into the atmosphere, opening of the main-parachute door before splashdown and for the contingency flight release of the grapple fixture that was not required in this mission.
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Robotbeat
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« Reply #1112 on: 07/12/2012 04:26 PM » |
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another one.. presumably NDAs are expiring.
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/SpaceX_Dragon_Utilizes_Cooper_Interconnect_Non_Explosive_Actuators_999.html
Cooper Interconnect has announced that Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) utilized Cooper Interconnect non-explosive actuators on the Dragon Spacecraft to support the mission to become the first commercial vehicle in history to attach to the International Space Station.
The non-explosive actuators were installed on the Dragon capsule to facilitate a broad range of mission-critical functionality including nose-cone deployment needed to expose the docking adapter, release of the trunk before re-entry into the atmosphere, opening of the main-parachute door before splashdown and for the contingency flight release of the grapple fixture that was not required in this mission.
I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?
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dragon44
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« Reply #1113 on: 07/12/2012 04:56 PM » |
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I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?
I read through the Cooper website and the devices are listed as "refurbishable for field testing". When you read how they work it looks like they could be refurbished for another mission, but not used twice in one mission (in other words the GNC door on the side of Dragon must have used a different sysetm). Basically there is a plunger with a compressed spring trying to move it. It can't move because it is blocked by a two(or more?) piece 'spool'. The spool is held together by wrapping it with wire. The wire doesn't unravel because a smaller wire is holding it together. When you pass a current though the smaller wire it heats up and breaks. At that point the force of the spring is enough to overcome the holding power of the spool which unravels and splits apart letting the plunger move. Depending on which side of the plunger you are connected to it will either be a 'puller' or a 'pusher'.
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Robotbeat
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« Reply #1114 on: 07/12/2012 05:36 PM » |
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I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?
I read through the Cooper website and the devices are listed as "refurbishable for field testing". When you read how they work it looks like they could be refurbished for another mission, but not used twice in one mission (in other words the GNC door on the side of Dragon must have used a different sysetm).
Basically there is a plunger with a compressed spring trying to move it. It can't move because it is blocked by a two(or more?) piece 'spool'. The spool is held together by wrapping it with wire. The wire doesn't unravel because a smaller wire is holding it together. When you pass a current though the smaller wire it heats up and breaks. At that point the force of the spring is enough to overcome the holding power of the spool which unravels and splits apart letting the plunger move. Depending on which side of the plunger you are connected to it will either be a 'puller' or a 'pusher'.
Ah, I see. Makes sense. I was wondering because SpaceX seems to have an affinity for mechanisms that can be used again and again, partially because they're a little obsessed with reusability but also because it allows them to ground test the crap out of everything. This sounds roughly halfway between a totally reusable mechanism and a totally expendable one. You can ground-test it, but it takes effort to reset it, and parts of it are expended. As long as they're reliable.
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FinalFrontier
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« Reply #1115 on: 07/12/2012 06:16 PM » |
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Know this is a bit OT but I am looking forward to whenever the first cargo mission for F9 will be (IE non dragon customer).
Really want to see what the full up cargo F9 will look like when the time comes, and I am anxious for them to start flying customers besides NASA again.
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Jason1701
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« Reply #1116 on: 07/12/2012 09:40 PM » |
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Know this is a bit OT but I am looking forward to whenever the first cargo mission for F9 will be (IE non dragon customer).
Really want to see what the full up cargo F9 will look like when the time comes, and I am anxious for them to start flying customers besides NASA again.
You probably won't have to wait too long. Now that M1D has been fired at full duration, they are likely acceptance-testing the rest of Flight 6's engines. Then integrating them into the first stretched core!
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Lars_J
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« Reply #1120 on: 07/17/2012 04:45 PM » |
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SpaceX just posted their C2+ mission summary video:
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/QwDCWTqNceQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/QwDCWTqNceQ&rel=1</a>]]>A bunch of new (to me anyway) footage mixed in there.
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Lars_J
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« Reply #1121 on: 07/17/2012 05:02 PM » |
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A cool shot: (sorry for the poor quality)
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Comga
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« Reply #1123 on: 07/19/2012 04:08 PM » |
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Future configurations of the Falcon 9 are Off-Topic for the COTS-2+ mission thread, people. All of this back and forth is based on an image capture from the launch, which was both On-Topic and cool. There is a Falcon 9 V1.1 thread for this discussion, with many of these questions answered.
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Chris Bergin
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« Reply #1124 on: 07/20/2012 10:55 PM » |
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Future configurations of the Falcon 9 are Off-Topic for the COTS-2+ mission thread, people. All of this back and forth is based on an image capture from the launch, which was both On-Topic and cool. There is a Falcon 9 V1.1 thread for this discussion, with many of these questions answered.
Bonus points go to Comga for attempting to stop people from posting about the V1.1 on the wrong thread (this is the wrong thread for this). Thread trimmed, as will any other posts that are not specific to C2+
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