New Research Platform to Fly on XCOR Lynx Space PlaneLynx Cub Payload Carrier Being Developed at Texas A&MCollege Station, Texas (Mar. 28, 2013) – A new payload carrier promises to dramatically reduce the cost of access to space for small scientific and education payloads. (snip)http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/new-research-platform-developed-for-xcor-lynx-space-plane.html
New Research Platform to Fly on XCOR Lynx Space Plane
Quote from: deltaV on 03/28/2013 03:20 pmLurker: liquids do not change volume significantly when under pressure.But Oxygen and Hydrogen must be pressurized in order to change from gas to liquid form, correct ? Maybe a low thrust engine isn't interested in pushing as much fuel and oxidizer into the combustion chamber as possible, and most of XCORs engines look to be in a small thrust class.
Lurker: liquids do not change volume significantly when under pressure.
Quote from: go4mars on 03/27/2013 02:43 amQuote from: gin455res on 03/26/2013 06:46 pmThis press release, claims that these piston pumps are 'game-changing'.Why is that?Re-read the quote from Jeff Greason. Takes away the need for (heavy) high-pressure tanks... Also, IIRC, when they had the release related to the testing on the motorcycle, they couldn't figure out what a wear mechanism would be.Looking forward to a vast future for XCOR! Well done.I don't understand taking away the need for "high-pressure" tanks. You want to carry as much fuel in as little volume as possible, right ? Doesn't that pretty much guarantee that your fuel will be condensed / pressurized as much as possible ? Sure, you may not need to maintain that pressure over the life of the stage, but I would think high-pressure (and tanks able to handle that pressure is a given.
Quote from: gin455res on 03/26/2013 06:46 pmThis press release, claims that these piston pumps are 'game-changing'.Why is that?Re-read the quote from Jeff Greason. Takes away the need for (heavy) high-pressure tanks... Also, IIRC, when they had the release related to the testing on the motorcycle, they couldn't figure out what a wear mechanism would be.Looking forward to a vast future for XCOR! Well done.
This press release, claims that these piston pumps are 'game-changing'.Why is that?
Any idea what drives Xcor's piston pumps?In a turbo pump it is the turbine that drives the pump. I was thinking that in a rocket engine piston pump you'd still need a turbine to drive the crankshaft. That is unless there is other mechanism I'm not familiar with.
Quote from: krytek on 04/01/2013 01:14 pmAny idea what drives Xcor's piston pumps?In a turbo pump it is the turbine that drives the pump. I was thinking that in a rocket engine piston pump you'd still need a turbine to drive the crankshaft. That is unless there is other mechanism I'm not familiar with. Pistons drive the piston pump (like a car engine). The gas to drive that I think comes from a gas generator, but they apparently have some secret sauce there.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/01/2013 01:58 pmQuote from: krytek on 04/01/2013 01:14 pmAny idea what drives Xcor's piston pumps?In a turbo pump it is the turbine that drives the pump. I was thinking that in a rocket engine piston pump you'd still need a turbine to drive the crankshaft. That is unless there is other mechanism I'm not familiar with. Pistons drive the piston pump (like a car engine). The gas to drive that I think comes from a gas generator, but they apparently have some secret sauce there.Couldn't it be that they actually have a spark there? With a little thermal exchange you can have plenty of gas and use standard pistons.
I'm confident it doesn't use a spark.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/01/2013 07:46 pmI'm confident it doesn't use a spark.Right, it's a piston PUMP not a piston ENGINE...
Imagine a piston or Wankel version of the SpaceX/FastTrac turbo-pump, which has a turbine harvesting the power of fuel and oxidizer combustion to directly power a turbine pumping fuel and oxidizer.
What could XCOR's patent pending thermodynamic cycle possibly be, and how would that enable their pumps to be as efficient as they claim
XCOR Aerospace - Jeff GreasonXCOR is as much a creation of Space Access as anything elseAll started when he went to the the first oneEZ Rocket got down to $500 per flightNeed reliability before we can do the cool thingsReusability can work if and only if:1. Capital cost is amortized over lifetime 2. Variable cost per flight is lowSuborbital is strategicLynx MECO ~100,000 ftGlass top spacecraftThree markets: people, payloads, and upper stagesEvery year more and more nanosatsLynx status: not done yet!Propulsion wise in great shapeNo fixed infrastructure (except ex-Marine Corp bunker)Did Lynx engine test in partnership with Boeing20 ms non-hypergol RCSAvionics connected during engine testAerodynamics: doneUnderside wing fences (right under fillets), allows for larger dihedralUsed the wind tunnel at Wright-PattersonCut away of the structureFour pumps, four engines, each pair of pumps feeds a pair of enginesStarted on airframe 2, which might fly firstHad some lessons learned from first airframe, wanted to try them immediately on second airframeBuzz in the cockpitGear are mostly build, except retractsWing vendor changeNose has been surprisingly difficult structurallyNeed to close thermodynamic loop for pump/engineTest LOX tankIn parallel LH2 pump programBeing paid to learn how to handle LH2 has been usefulHave to really reimagine how to handle LH2 with low infrastructureOrbital vehicle: conception problems solvedCarrier aircraft plus two rocket stages, second is LH2Goal is $1 million per personRelocating to between Midland and OdessaLow population density and big manufacturing baseOrbital vehicle: Carrier aircraft you can buy, both rocket stages reusableMarket is corporations paying to fly personnel to orbit (like offshore oil rigs)There is a payload market (that he won't talk about) that is not comm satsMove is because of California, just can't lease more spaceWant the development and manufacturing in separate placesFlorida will be serial production locationLooking for analog electronic engineers
To be clear, he meant that he intends XCOR to buy a carrier aircraft, not that they are selling carrier aircraft.Also, the LH2 adds one shift (6-8 hours) to the turnaround, but helps a lot of other things.
"Market is corporations paying to fly personnel to orbit (like offshore oil rigs)"Can someone paint a picture of this? Is this remotely pointing to a winged Linx-type reusable that can achieve orbit?