Shuttle era #RSS is being rapidly dismantled in recent weeks prior to 1st test flight of @SpaceX #FalconHeavy-set for sometime early 2018. Large chunks of @NASAKennedy Rotating Service Structure being detached-see my Dec 23 pics from @ExploreSpaceKSC tour bus #SpaceUpClose
Another, clearer shot, from Ken Kramer:QuoteShuttle era #RSS is being rapidly dismantled in recent weeks prior to 1st test flight of @SpaceX #FalconHeavy-set for sometime early 2018. Large chunks of @NASAKennedy Rotating Service Structure being detached-see my Dec 23 pics from @ExploreSpaceKSC tour bus #SpaceUpClosehttps://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/945506105198895104
A question for anyone with appropriate mechanical expertise and intuition:Can Heavy be safely launched with the remainder of the RSS hanging there or does removing much of the projecting structure become schedule critical?
Those bearings are just like "normal" thrust bearings in every way, except for the fact that they're gigantic, and carry a gigantic load while moving, and, like all other "normal" bearings, they have set-screws to hold them in place once whatever it is that's moving, has moved to its intended location where the work gets done.And I wound up, having to schlep one of those set-screws up to the pad deck in my ratty old yellow VW bug, from our field trailer.And it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen in my life.The set screw was identical in every way to a "normal" set screw.Except that it was machined from a single block of aluminum, complete with acme threads and a nice point on the bearing-end of things, a hole drilled through it on the opposite end with a rod through the hole that could be hand-turned by whoever it was that had to go up on the tower and turn it, and it was about ten inches or maybe a foot in diameter and about four feet long, and must have weighed over a hundred pounds!Set-screw.
What is the length of the CAA compared to that of Saturn V and Shuttle?It seems like it will be quite the reach.
Quote from: NX-0 on 12/29/2017 03:58 pmWhat is the length of the CAA compared to that of Saturn V and Shuttle?It seems like it will be quite the reach.Given that it's the same FSS as shuttle, and same flame trench, if one presumes the vehicles are centered or nearly so, then the CAA should really only differ in length by the difference in dragon radius to shuttle body width from the center line. That'd be a small difference compared to the overall length of the CAA.Wasn't the Saturn V tower on the MLP? So it's CAA was probably a good bit shorter, possibly by half?
The side-by-side here:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42705.msg1765140#msg1765140 Seems like the CAA for F9 needs to be about as long as the ET Vent Beanie.Or is it an optical illusion?
Ive been wondering how the CAA will clear the top of the TEL...just seems like it will be a tight fit based on the pics ive seen but maybe D2 will change that
Quote from: chrisking0997 on 01/02/2018 04:30 pmIve been wondering how the CAA will clear the top of the TEL...just seems like it will be a tight fit based on the pics ive seen but maybe D2 will change thatWhat do you mean with 'clear'? The CAA will be attached to the side of the tower, not built on top of it.
Quote from: Lars-J on 01/02/2018 08:02 pmQuote from: chrisking0997 on 01/02/2018 04:30 pmIve been wondering how the CAA will clear the top of the TEL...just seems like it will be a tight fit based on the pics ive seen but maybe D2 will change thatWhat do you mean with 'clear'? The CAA will be attached to the side of the tower, not built on top of it.I think his point was that the CAA is attached on the same side of the tower as the TEL, so the motion of the arm will have to account for that obstacle.
Launching from SLC-40. Will be interesting to see if any F9 launch from 39A in the first half of 2018.
Quote from: gongora on 01/06/2018 02:54 pmLaunching from SLC-40. Will be interesting to see if any F9 launch from 39A in the first half of 2018.Why wouldn't they?
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 01/06/2018 02:57 pmQuote from: gongora on 01/06/2018 02:54 pmLaunching from SLC-40. Will be interesting to see if any F9 launch from 39A in the first half of 2018.Why wouldn't they?I believe because of the not insignificant amount of work required to reconfigure the frame back to a single stick (and then back again for the next FH launch).