About those 'thrust fluctuations':Seems that debris blown back up at an engine, maybe during touchdown, is a suspect.Would it be possible to e.g. cold vent some LOX through the eight non-firing engines to help stop any debris being blown back into them? Are the engines even capable of doing this, and would it create a bit of a fireball?
About those 'thrust fluctuations':Seems that debris blown back up at an engine, maybe during touchdown, is a suspect....
Quote from: Kaputnik on 02/05/2016 12:30 pmAbout those 'thrust fluctuations':Seems that debris blown back up at an engine, maybe during touchdown, is a suspect.Would it be possible to e.g. cold vent some LOX through the eight non-firing engines to help stop any debris being blown back into them? Are the engines even capable of doing this, and would it create a bit of a fireball?My reading of GS comments is that they discovered something awry with the returned stage, and that has delayed the current launch. Now ingested FOD on landing would not do that, because that doesn't affect launch, so I suspect something else has been discovered, that was caused during the returned stage's launch. Supposition of course, but fits what we know. All good of course, every time they discover something, makes the next flight more reliable.
What are the speculations or educated guesses on what will be required for refurbishment of stages/vehicles that have been recovered after flight, in order to make them flight-worthy again? (Was thinking mainly of the F9R booster, but Dragon would be relevant too)...
SpaceX's Shotwell: the Falcon 9 first stage we recovered was in remarkable shape. Goal is no refurbishment.#satellite2016
SpaceX's goal is no refurbishment which Shotwell reiterated today:
...I tend to think it will not just be ten 3 second static firings; perhaps a series of firings at different lengths and thrust levels? Are there sufficient sensors on the stage to provide all the diagnostic information needed? Will they also borescope the engines? Laser scan the tanks to look for slight deformations?...
Keep in mind that the Merlins have a finite total burn time and finite number of engine startups.
Doing borescoping and laser scans are time consuming. So doing such tasks for returned cores is unlikely IMO without some indication of problems from the telemetry.
What else is appropriate to do?ps. I think he said they will wash it also.
Quote from: Jcc on 04/10/2016 09:48 pm...I tend to think it will not just be ten 3 second static firings; perhaps a series of firings at different lengths and thrust levels? Are there sufficient sensors on the stage to provide all the diagnostic information needed? Will they also borescope the engines? Laser scan the tanks to look for slight deformations?...Keep in mind that the Merlins have a finite total burn time and finite number of engine startups.Doing borescoping and laser scans are time consuming. So doing such tasks for returned cores is unlikely IMO without some indication of problems from the telemetry.
Elon Musk has stated they have no meaningful limit. They just need exchange of some highly stressed parts.