Total Members Voted: 75
Voting closed: 03/21/2021 06:36 pm
Reaching orbit is obviously the most important milestone because it's the point at which the company can serve paying customers.
At this point in time, which methalox engines have- the longest test stand burn time- the longest duration flight time- the highest altitude in flightI'm going to assume Raptor can claim the second and third of these, does it also get the first?
Quote from: Kaputnik on 08/23/2022 07:22 pmAt this point in time, which methalox engines have- the longest test stand burn time- the longest duration flight time- the highest altitude in flightI'm going to assume Raptor can claim the second and third of these, does it also get the first?I suspect that Raptor likely is the winner of the total burn time of all methalox engine tests. Granted there have been more 'production' or 'flight ready' Raptor engines produced than any other modelWhich of the various engines has the engine with the longest single test burn is a big question mark.As far as I know no other methalox engine have flown under their own power.
Quote from: AmigaClone on 08/23/2022 08:04 pmQuote from: Kaputnik on 08/23/2022 07:22 pmAt this point in time, which methalox engines have- the longest test stand burn time- the longest duration flight time- the highest altitude in flightI'm going to assume Raptor can claim the second and third of these, does it also get the first?I suspect that Raptor likely is the winner of the total burn time of all methalox engine tests. Granted there have been more 'production' or 'flight ready' Raptor engines produced than any other modelWhich of the various engines has the engine with the longest single test burn is a big question mark.As far as I know no other methalox engine have flown under their own power.There is the HD5, which powered Project Morpheus flights in 2013-14.
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 08/23/2022 08:31 pmQuote from: AmigaClone on 08/23/2022 08:04 pmQuote from: Kaputnik on 08/23/2022 07:22 pmAt this point in time, which methalox engines have- the longest test stand burn time- the longest duration flight time- the highest altitude in flightI'm going to assume Raptor can claim the second and third of these, does it also get the first?I suspect that Raptor likely is the winner of the total burn time of all methalox engine tests. Granted there have been more 'production' or 'flight ready' Raptor engines produced than any other modelWhich of the various engines has the engine with the longest single test burn is a big question mark.As far as I know no other methalox engine have flown under their own power.There is the HD5, which powered Project Morpheus flights in 2013-14.If we just assume a minute-long firing of every Raptor produced, we're in the tens of thousands of seconds. It's hard to compete when any testing done on Raptor is magnified a hundred times.
There is now a NOTAM for the least-voted option in this poll (Zhuque-2), which incidentally I voted for over a year ago:https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=56295.msg2365629;boardseen#newEven if the launch might slip, or more ominously fail suborbitally, this still shows a large disconnect between the poll results and reality.
First methalox orbital LV liftoff has occurred and was apparently successful through at least first stage flight (first part of this poll): Zhuque-2.[...] leaving the first part of the poll decided but the latter part still up in the air (closest contender would be Terran's debut, so far NET January).
Another methalox rocket has left the pad, Terran-1, but didn't reach orbit either, like the first to be launched (Zhuque-2), actually failing at an earlier point in the flight (SES-1 vs 3rd stage vernier flight).On to the next attempt, which looks like will again be ZQ-2's.
Did Terran 1 reach space ie cross karman line.
Quote from: eeergo on 03/23/2023 05:58 amAnother methalox rocket has left the pad, Terran-1, but didn't reach orbit either, like the first to be launched (Zhuque-2), actually failing at an earlier point in the flight (SES-1 vs 3rd stage vernier flight).On to the next attempt, which looks like will again be ZQ-2's.Did Terran 1 reach space ie cross karman line.
Should Vulcan been counted as contestant as it uses hydrolox US which is only part that reaches orbit. Same can be said for NG and Stokes RLV, not that these two are really in this race.
As long as the core stage of a launcher is MethaLox. It should be included as a contestant, IMO.
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 04/01/2023 04:07 pmAs long as the core stage of a launcher is MethaLox. It should be included as a contestant, IMO.In that case, the competition is over because both ZQ-2 and Terran-1 had successful first stage burns. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 03/31/2023 03:53 pmShould Vulcan been counted as contestant as it uses hydrolox US which is only part that reaches orbit. Same can be said for NG and Stokes RLV, not that these two are really in this race.I can see having two or more 'first methalox launcher to reach orbit'.The options I can think of include:1) "All stages powered by methalox".2) At least one Methalox stage, but it would also include combinations of boosters and stages that don't use methalox.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/01/2023 07:43 pmQuote from: Zed_Noir on 04/01/2023 04:07 pmAs long as the core stage of a launcher is MethaLox. It should be included as a contestant, IMO.In that case, the competition is over because both ZQ-2 and Terran-1 had successful first stage burns. - Ed KyleWhich part of full orbit did they achieve?
That’s pretty lame rhetoric. The energy of the starship OFT launch is orbital, they just don’t want to pull a Long March 5 and have a risk of a huge upper stage stuck in orbit. Being responsible with an inaugural launch is not a reason to be penalized. I think if you have 3 brain cells to rub together, you can understand why this would count.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/02/2023 04:57 pmThat’s pretty lame rhetoric. The energy of the starship OFT launch is orbital, they just don’t want to pull a Long March 5 and have a risk of a huge upper stage stuck in orbit. Being responsible with an inaugural launch is not a reason to be penalized. I think if you have 3 brain cells to rub together, you can understand why this would count.Why the unjustified insult? It seems out of character for you.
I'm betting Vulcan will follow.
Quote from: eeergo on 07/12/2023 05:03 amI'm betting Vulcan will follow.I would not bet on it after this: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-be-4-rocket-engine-explodes-during-testing.html
Quote from: First Mate Rummey on 07/12/2023 07:54 amQuote from: eeergo on 07/12/2023 05:03 amI'm betting Vulcan will follow.I would not bet on it after this: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-be-4-rocket-engine-explodes-during-testing.htmlI would. Check out even the most pessimistic takes on this issue. Further, it's not like the other "close" contender has any shortage of engine failures.