People may be prematurely celebrating the end of the expendable era.. They may soon be nostalgic for the age of brand spanking shiny new rockets. Should we really celebrate spaceflight joining the modern age of sooty vehicles, shitty inflight service, vandalised seats adorned with chewing gum.. something unidentifiable and sticky.. and the smell of wee?
People may be prematurely celebrating the end of the expendable era.. They may soon be nostalgic for the age of brand spanking shiny new rockets. Should we really celebrate spaceflight joining the modern age of sooty vehicles, shitty inflight service, vandalised seats adorned with chewing gum.
I wonder how long it will be until there's a "used spaceship" market? Or maybe the term "pre-owned" would sound better.But seriously, I'd like to know how extensively the various construction materials and components have been tested for "cycle life". It's one thing to expect your O-ring to flex properly during one launch, but after how many launches will it give out?Is cycle life something that's normally tested for in the rocket industry?
Quote from: sanman on 12/30/2015 07:17 pmI wonder how long it will be until there's a "used spaceship" market? Or maybe the term "pre-owned" would sound better.But seriously, I'd like to know how extensively the various construction materials and components have been tested for "cycle life". It's one thing to expect your O-ring to flex properly during one launch, but after how many launches will it give out?Is cycle life something that's normally tested for in the rocket industry?Preloved.
Quote from: Kansan52 on 12/30/2015 10:18 pmQuote from: sanman on 12/30/2015 07:17 pmI wonder how long it will be until there's a "used spaceship" market? Or maybe the term "pre-owned" would sound better.But seriously, I'd like to know how extensively the various construction materials and components have been tested for "cycle life". It's one thing to expect your O-ring to flex properly during one launch, but after how many launches will it give out?Is cycle life something that's normally tested for in the rocket industry?Preloved.Prelaunched.
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 12/30/2015 10:58 pmQuote from: Kansan52 on 12/30/2015 10:18 pmQuote from: sanman on 12/30/2015 07:17 pmI wonder how long it will be until there's a "used spaceship" market? Or maybe the term "pre-owned" would sound better.But seriously, I'd like to know how extensively the various construction materials and components have been tested for "cycle life". It's one thing to expect your O-ring to flex properly during one launch, but after how many launches will it give out?Is cycle life something that's normally tested for in the rocket industry?Preloved.Prelaunched.Proven.
Things like thermal stresses during tank/detank operations are always considered. Even an EELV may go through several. But SpaceX needs more than "several". But - seriously - do you really doubt that they're only now getting to it? It may not be "normal" in the rocket industry, but it sure took place with Shuttle, and it sure takes place in the aircraft, shipbuilding and car industries. (and many others, of course)
I understand that the FTS is rendered inert at some point in the flight. Is it rendered so inert that it cannot be reactivated (sounds like a good thing) and so is one thing that must be replaced?
Quote from: meekGee on 12/30/2015 10:09 pmThings like thermal stresses during tank/detank operations are always considered. Even an EELV may go through several. But SpaceX needs more than "several". But - seriously - do you really doubt that they're only now getting to it? It may not be "normal" in the rocket industry, but it sure took place with Shuttle, and it sure takes place in the aircraft, shipbuilding and car industries. (and many others, of course)Fair enough - I'd imagine that thermal stress cycling must have been a prerequisite, given all the fueling-cancelation-defueling-refueling-etc that happens.But when it comes to flight dynamic stresses - that's got to be tough to accurately simulate Max-Q and everything else. Furthermore, what do you do when you discover that your recovered booster now has a wicked shimmy in it?Sounds like it's time to scrap that booster and pull a brand new one off the assembly line.From what I see, when the fuselage structure exhibits issues during acoustic testing, then that recovered booster is pretty much a write-off. Just cannibalize some parts off it.Which then also makes me wonder - can the design evolution of the stages/vehicles also move towards maximizing recyclability? Whatever else is wrong with the recovered stage/vehicle, you at least want to be able to scavenge some useful parts off it for possible re-use.
Quote from: AncientU on 12/30/2015 11:06 pmQuote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 12/30/2015 10:58 pmQuote from: Kansan52 on 12/30/2015 10:18 pmQuote from: sanman on 12/30/2015 07:17 pmI wonder how long it will be until there's a "used spaceship" market? Or maybe the term "pre-owned" would sound better.But seriously, I'd like to know how extensively the various construction materials and components have been tested for "cycle life". It's one thing to expect your O-ring to flex properly during one launch, but after how many launches will it give out?Is cycle life something that's normally tested for in the rocket industry?Preloved.Prelaunched.Proven.Provocative.