PICA 3.0 advancements for Dragon 2 enhance our ability to use the heat shield many times with minimal maintenance
Just absorbing the Mars presentation PDF (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/mars_presentation.pdf) and noticed on page 38 references to PICA 3.0 advancements for Dragon 2, accompanied by this picture. Is this a Dragon 2 heat shield (test article)? Could those circular holes be for five little legs?Quote from: SpaceX Mars PresentationPICA 3.0 advancements for Dragon 2 enhance our ability to use the heat shield many times with minimal maintenance
I'm more curious as to why the centre panel in the head shield is so square, given that all the other panels are more curved.Looks almost hatch-shaped.......
Could those circular holes be for five little legs?
Quote from: ScottMC on 10/01/2016 08:26 pmCould those circular holes be for five little legs?IANARS, but I think those are the S2 attach points.
That's a standard Dragon V1 heat shield, compare with a used one: http://i.imgur.com/s7yORbX.jpg
Quote from: eriblo on 10/01/2016 10:02 pmThat's a standard Dragon V1 heat shield, compare with a used one: http://i.imgur.com/s7yORbX.jpgThere is nothing that prevents SpaceX from using the Dragon 1 PICA layout for Dragon 2.
Quote from: woods170 on 10/03/2016 02:06 pmQuote from: eriblo on 10/01/2016 10:02 pmThat's a standard Dragon V1 heat shield, compare with a used one: http://i.imgur.com/s7yORbX.jpgThere is nothing that prevents SpaceX from using the Dragon 1 PICA layout for Dragon 2.Well of course not, it's a nice proven layout, but there should still be leg holes*. So it's either a Dragon 1 shield or they are forgoing legs, which they IMHO would only do if the first flights uses water splashdowns and there is a good reason as they want to move to land touchdowns (power assisted or fully powered) ASAP. *Covered by (PICA?) plugs so not actual holes.
Quote from: eriblo on 10/03/2016 03:07 pmQuote from: woods170 on 10/03/2016 02:06 pmQuote from: eriblo on 10/01/2016 10:02 pmThat's a standard Dragon V1 heat shield, compare with a used one: http://i.imgur.com/s7yORbX.jpgThere is nothing that prevents SpaceX from using the Dragon 1 PICA layout for Dragon 2.Well of course not, it's a nice proven layout, but there should still be leg holes*. So it's either a Dragon 1 shield or they are forgoing legs, which they IMHO would only do if the first flights uses water splashdowns and there is a good reason as they want to move to land touchdowns (power assisted or fully powered) ASAP. *Covered by (PICA?) plugs so not actual holes.The first several flights of Dragon 2 for CCP are scheduled to splash down under parachutes, just like Dragon 1. Therefore, for the time being: no landing leg holes needed. The big exception will be Red Dragon, but that will be an extensively modified Dragon 2.
The first several flights of Dragon 2 for CCP are scheduled to splash down under parachutes, just like Dragon 1. Therefore, for the time being: no landing leg holes needed. The big exception will be Red Dragon, but that will be an extensively modified Dragon 2.
Quote from: woods170 on 10/03/2016 06:08 pmThe first several flights of Dragon 2 for CCP are scheduled to splash down under parachutes, just like Dragon 1. Therefore, for the time being: no landing leg holes needed. The big exception will be Red Dragon, but that will be an extensively modified Dragon 2.Why would a Red Dragon, or a regular Dragon 2 need legs? If the Super Dracos throttle satisfactorily why not just land on the heat shield?
Quote from: OnWithTheShow on 10/04/2016 03:07 amQuote from: woods170 on 10/03/2016 06:08 pmThe first several flights of Dragon 2 for CCP are scheduled to splash down under parachutes, just like Dragon 1. Therefore, for the time being: no landing leg holes needed. The big exception will be Red Dragon, but that will be an extensively modified Dragon 2.Why would a Red Dragon, or a regular Dragon 2 need legs? If the Super Dracos throttle satisfactorily why not just land on the heat shield?It's not a load-bearing sort of material. You'd have to replace it every time.