Though the legs seem lighter than expected at 2000kg. Those things are huge! How did you end up with that value?
Aluminum honeycomb offers maximum stiffness and one of the highest strength to weight ratios of any structural core material available.
True, if used, the fins barely weigh much compared to a fully loaded first stage of F9R v1.1. Was just checking if anyone has managed to make an estimate My current estimate of the f9v1.1 stage 1 structural mass is indeed in the range of 20000 kg(+/- 5% due to data inaccuracies). Though the legs seem lighter than expected at 2000kg. Those things are huge! How did you end up with that value?
"...Needs to be ultra light. All 4 legs together (~60 ft span) weigh less than Model S."
My 4yo daughter saw me reading here this morning, and saw a picture of a rocket on the right. She asked if she could watch a video of a rocket taking off, so I grabbed a random youtube video of a Delta launch. After about a minute she said "Why isn't it going back down to land?". Sorry, had to share
Wondering to myself if a F9R-1 demonstration could be presented at an airshow such as the Paris show.
Quote from: mr. mark on 07/25/2014 11:03 pmWondering to myself if a F9R-1 demonstration could be presented at an airshow such as the Paris show.Could? Yes, just takes logistics.Should? Seems like a lot of risk to spectators that aren't going to be far enough away. So no.Would? Seems like a lot of cost for minimal oomph. The people that matter already know, and the people who don't know may not matter.I'd take the no side of the bet for pretty long odds.
Does anyone know when the F9R-Dev2 flights in New Mexico are planned to start? Or even if it has been built yet?
Quote from: QuantumG on 07/27/2014 09:50 pmQuote from: Rand SimbergTalked to Gwynne yesterday and she confirmed that they're working permission on flyback, but next landing will be on a barge. via TwitterSo there ya go.Plus this:Quote from: Rand SimbergNo more water landings. And Spaceport America has cost more and taken longer than expected. I take that to mean they will try a landing at CCAFS before we see any F9R testing from New Mexico, if at all...
Quote from: Rand SimbergTalked to Gwynne yesterday and she confirmed that they're working permission on flyback, but next landing will be on a barge. via TwitterSo there ya go.
Talked to Gwynne yesterday and she confirmed that they're working permission on flyback, but next landing will be on a barge. via Twitter
No more water landings. And Spaceport America has cost more and taken longer than expected.
According to the FAA the F9R-Dev1 made a flight on the first of August.
Quote from: Zond on 08/02/2014 05:35 pmAccording to the FAA the F9R-Dev1 made a flight on the first of August.I drive through Waco about once a month and have been meaning to go by McGregor for awhile now. I was there yesterday (Aug. 3rd) around 6 pm and got a few pictures of F9R-Dev1, Grasshopper, and the F9 tripod test stand with a 1st stage on it (not sure which one, I saw another post saying AsiaSat 6's core was on the stand about a week ago so this may be it).
1000m F9R flight, new actuators, new software according to Reisman. ~25:40 in the video.http://new.livestream.com/AIAAvideo/space2014/videos/58462185
Quote from: executor314 on 08/09/2014 04:05 am1000m F9R flight, new actuators, new software according to Reisman. ~25:40 in the video.http://new.livestream.com/AIAAvideo/space2014/videos/58462185What are actuators? I know it has something to do with stability.
I've tried to find a discussion of this using the search utility but haven't found it.Has anyone tried to estimate the effectiveness of the grid fins at various speeds? I'm curious to what extent they could change the angle of attack of a re-entering stage and therefore cause lift and possibly significantly reduce the need for such a fuel intensive boost back.Presumably this is dependent on whether they can be deployed whilst the stage is hypersonic?