Author Topic: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion Thread 1  (Read 789345 times)

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #260 on: 12/06/2017 04:58 pm »
The STAR48 disappeared from the F9/FH user manual years ago. Just checked, no mention.

As to TMI, it's not really going to Mars, but an elliptical heliocentric orbit who's apohelion is around Mar's distance from the sun, and perihelion that's Earth's current distance at launch.

Next question to ask is the number of US burns, as well as the downrange for the core. That will tell you something about the mission profile and delta-v requirements. From the launch azimuth and staging, you'll be able to get above/below ecliptic and thus factor in the angular momentum of the earth with the successive vectors of boost, core, and US.

If the plan is to have a least stress launch for the side boosters phase, this light payload won't use the core at all at launch, and go up with enough TWR to clear the tower/facility in less than 30 seconds, then gradually increase thrust to not exceed potential torsional events from TO/uneven thrust, so max Q likely much higher than usual, and possibly staging well before it. Core would ramp just after staging, pass max Q then ramp to maximum, likely also a highly lofted trajectory unless the core burnout requires more downrange to make higher parking/direct injection.

Timing of launch and burn to depletion of US will give you an idea of where the thing is headed above/below the ecliptic.

Would not be surprised if its a direction injection to above the ecliptic with a single US burn no coast, with a highly lofted core burn - then you can track the US/payload post burnout for a few minutes w/o additional resource elsewhere.


Offline mheney

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #261 on: 12/06/2017 07:20 pm »
Please note the "non-payload" part of this thread's title ...

Offline rockets4life97

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #262 on: 12/06/2017 07:26 pm »
Do we know whether these boosters are considered block 3 or block 4? or is that not a relevant category for the first FH?

This launch is somewhat of a one-off with future FH's will be block 5. Is this expected to effect certification?

Offline ZachS09

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #263 on: 12/06/2017 07:28 pm »
Do we know whether these boosters are considered block 3 or block 4? or is that not a relevant category for the first FH?

This launch is somewhat of a one-off with future FH's will be block 5. Is this expected to effect certification?

Both boosters are Block 3 since the Block 4 boosters did not start flying until August 2017.

Their first flights were in May and July 2016.
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Offline rockets4life97

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #264 on: 12/06/2017 07:30 pm »
Do we know whether these boosters are considered block 3 or block 4? or is that not a relevant category for the first FH?

This launch is somewhat of a one-off with future FH's will be block 5. Is this expected to effect certification?

Both boosters are Block 3 since the Block 4 boosters did not start flying until August 2017.

Their first flights were in May and July 2016.

Yes, my question was getting at whether when the boosters were converted they were also upgraded to block 4.

Offline ZachS09

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #265 on: 12/06/2017 07:36 pm »
Do we know whether these boosters are considered block 3 or block 4? or is that not a relevant category for the first FH?

This launch is somewhat of a one-off with future FH's will be block 5. Is this expected to effect certification?

Both boosters are Block 3 since the Block 4 boosters did not start flying until August 2017.

Their first flights were in May and July 2016.

Yes, my question was getting at whether when the boosters were converted they were also upgraded to block 4.

My opinion is that when Block 3 boosters are reused, there's no need to upgrade to Block 4.
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Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #266 on: 12/06/2017 08:57 pm »
Do we know whether these boosters are considered block 3 or block 4? or is that not a relevant category for the first FH?

This launch is somewhat of a one-off with future FH's will be block 5. Is this expected to effect certification?

Both boosters are Block 3 since the Block 4 boosters did not start flying until August 2017.

Their first flights were in May and July 2016.

No, both boosters are Block 2. The center core is Block 3.

And no, rockets4life97, they're still their original Blocks.
« Last Edit: 12/06/2017 08:58 pm by old_sellsword »

Offline ZachS09

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #267 on: 12/06/2017 08:57 pm »
I thought Block 2 referred to the v1.1 config.
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Offline IanThePineapple

I thought Block 2 referred to the v1.1 config.

I thought so to, I think that's a common argument

Offline Norm38

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #269 on: 12/06/2017 09:10 pm »
So this is finally clear?  Zuma moves to 40 and there’s nothing left to do at 39-A but get this on the pad?

Offline lrk

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #270 on: 12/06/2017 09:10 pm »
I thought Block 2 referred to the v1.1 config.

I thought so to, I think that's a common argument

It has since been confirmed multiple times that the 'blocks' are revisions within 'v1.2'/Full Thrust/F9 upgrade/(whatever the upgrade was that introduced subcooled LOX), but I can't actually seem to find a source at the moment.  I also distinctly remember hearing somewhere that the CRS-8/SES-11 core was a Block 1 booster (also can't remember where, I think maybe on reddit?) 
« Last Edit: 12/06/2017 09:11 pm by lrk »

Offline Formica

So this is finally clear?  Zuma moves to 40 and there’s nothing left to do at 39-A but get this on the pad?

I believe so! Exciting times, FH flow is well underway with no launches in front of it!  :D

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #272 on: 12/07/2017 12:08 am »
So following CRS13 ... 39A HIF is cleared of Zuma, then booster/US integration, and we see TE tests?

Offline IanThePineapple

So following CRS13 ... 39A HIF is cleared of Zuma, then booster/US integration, and we see TE tests?

I wouldn't be surprised to see rollout and fit checks in about 1.5-2 weeks.

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #274 on: 12/07/2017 12:44 am »
So following CRS13 ... 39A HIF is cleared of Zuma, then booster/US integration, and we see TE tests?

I wouldn't be surprised to see rollout and fit checks in about 1.5-2 weeks.

True, it's most likely that the delays will likely come after that, as they master fueling/safeing/draining.

With LC40 back to normal operation (will take a 2-3 launches before that settles down), they can accept the delay of sorting out all the details of processing, sequencing, and proving the multiple cores/GSE work, and the launch conductor procedures/aborts/restarts/sequencing has no surprises. It'll likely be quite a challenge to track all 27 engine characteristics stepping through the cold flows, feed lines, cryogenic "effects", as we have chilled propellants (another first here, a clustered vehicle with them, sure to have surprises). Lots of little details to reconcile, building to ignition sequencing (outboard to inner? staggered shutdown? cavitation?).

So likely a very tedious December/January, even if we see a roll-out so soon.

Offline oiorionsbelt

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #275 on: 12/07/2017 01:02 am »
So following CRS13 ... 39A HIF is cleared of Zuma, then booster/US integration, and we see TE tests?

I wouldn't be surprised to see rollout and fit checks in about 1.5-2 weeks.

True, it's most likely that the delays will likely come after that, as they master fueling/safeing/draining.

With LC40 back to normal operation (will take a 2-3 launches before that settles down), they can accept the delay of sorting out all the details of processing, sequencing, and proving the multiple cores/GSE work, and the launch conductor procedures/aborts/restarts/sequencing has no surprises. It'll likely be quite a challenge to track all 27 engine characteristics stepping through the cold flows, feed lines, cryogenic "effects", as we have chilled propellants (another first here, a clustered vehicle with them, sure to have surprises). Lots of little details to reconcile, building to ignition sequencing (outboard to inner? staggered shutdown? cavitation?).

So likely a very tedious December/January, even if we see a roll-out so soon.
Sounds like some BFR BFS applicable knowledge.

Offline ChrisC

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #276 on: 12/07/2017 01:38 pm »
Thank you gongora for splitting up the threads and finally giving us an updates-only thread!
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Offline Proponent

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #277 on: 12/07/2017 02:13 pm »
2 km/s is not a small number for a kerolox stage, hence why I'm pretty skeptical we'll be seeing this happen.

That's true, but this stage would be lightly loaded for the TMI burn and completely unloaded after that, which should improve the delta-V noticeably.

EDIT:  "loaded" -> "unloaded" (rather crucial!)
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 02:28 pm by Proponent »

Offline Basto

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #278 on: 12/07/2017 02:15 pm »
Sorry if I missed this but has the TEL been moved back into the HIF?  Last I heard it was on the pad for modifications.

Offline cscott

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #279 on: 12/07/2017 02:21 pm »
2 km/s is not a small number for a kerolox stage, hence why I'm pretty skeptical we'll be seeing this happen.

That's true, but this stage would be lightly loaded for the TMI burn and completely loaded after that, which should improve the delta-V noticeably.
I think you have that backwards, but good point. What's the mass ratio between a roadster and an FH S2?

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