Is anyone else surprised the fairing sank? They were close enough to photograph it, they didn't have the gear to retrieve it? Also, isn't it filled with air pockets from the construction method? A sizable piece floated to the Bahamas not so long ago.Matthew
Quote from: john smith 19 on 03/31/2017 07:42 amThinking about faring reuse raises some interesting questions. Historically there seems to have been a fair bit of customizing on the fairing for each payload. Custom sized (and shaped) doors and access panels.SpaceX doesn't do customized fairings (yet). "Historically" applies to other LSP's.
Thinking about faring reuse raises some interesting questions. Historically there seems to have been a fair bit of customizing on the fairing for each payload. Custom sized (and shaped) doors and access panels.
The fairing can accommodate up to two access doors in the cylindrical portion as a standard service. Thestandard payload fairing door is elliptical, with a maximum size of 450 x 550 mm (17.7 x 21.7 in.).Through-fairing RF antenna (re-radiation) systems are available as a nonstandard service; they areintended for use during payload antenna testing while on the launch pad, not for use during flight.
Quote from: woods170 on 03/31/2017 09:36 amQuote from: john smith 19 on 03/31/2017 07:42 amThinking about faring reuse raises some interesting questions. Historically there seems to have been a fair bit of customizing on the fairing for each payload. Custom sized (and shaped) doors and access panels.SpaceX doesn't do customized fairings (yet). "Historically" applies to other LSP's.In 2015 at least they offered a little bit of customization. The user guide says:QuoteThe fairing can accommodate up to two access doors in the cylindrical portion as a standard service. Thestandard payload fairing door is elliptical, with a maximum size of 450 x 550 mm (17.7 x 21.7 in.).Through-fairing RF antenna (re-radiation) systems are available as a nonstandard service; they areintended for use during payload antenna testing while on the launch pad, not for use during flight.(top of page 37 of http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/falcon_9_users_guide_rev_2.0.pdf)
I fly paraplanes and paragliders. The control mechanism setup is be very easy and cheap for a steerable parachute (parafoil).Parafoils use wing warping for heading changes and throttle or thermals for altitude changes. One servo with a capstan holding both control wires will provide perfect directional control. Pulling on one set of risers while releasing the other set is how control is maintained. Pitch is mostly irrelevant with a parafoil, and altitude can be bled off by circling as needed. They can circle down and fly the shell halves back towards shore remotely for helicopter pickup just off the coast or airbag landing in the water (Elon's "bouncy house"). Or just land them right in the brush at LZ-1. They are going to want a fairly low glide ratio (like 2:1 or 3:1) because the huge surface area of the aeroshell half underneath that is also catching the wind.
Quote from: matthewkantar on 03/31/2017 01:21 pmIs anyone else surprised the fairing sank? They were close enough to photograph it, they didn't have the gear to retrieve it? Also, isn't it filled with air pockets from the construction method? A sizable piece floated to the Bahamas not so long ago.MatthewEven if the didn't, a couple of float bags with CO2 inflation cartridges would't be too hard to rig. Heck, they could even rig the inflaters to go off when the are immersed in seawater, like the Navy has for their lifeboats.
No... but if it's in one piece it will be there in the morning.
We don't know exactly what the photo was: it's possible it was a "chutes out but not yet in contact with ocean" shot from a considerable distance, like we get of dragon recovery.
Quote from: cscott on 03/31/2017 03:11 pmWe don't know exactly what the photo was: it's possible it was a "chutes out but not yet in contact with ocean" shot from a considerable distance, like we get of dragon recovery. Didn't Martin Halliwell joke that it was the wrong half - which I take to mean the half with the SES log on. Presumably the photo must have been taken relatively close for that to be visible?Paul
We are beginning to see the designs of Elon, the evil genius... (pinkie firmly planted in corner of mouth)The fairing will deploy cold-gas thrusters and small pop-out grid fins to stabilize into a flyable aeroshell, navigating to a selected capture zone. At which point, the very large airship will open up it's large under slung cargo hold and the fairings will fly in and be caught in nets. The airship will then make its way to Elon's secret volcano lair ... which opens up it's hidden landing pad area, etc. Submarines or fast boats will return the shells to shore for additional processing.
If the parafoil can maneuver for a precision landing, I think SpaceX should be able to recover both halves with a single ship or barge. I envision deploying booms off the starboard & port sides, and each half has it's own landing space. See the attached image & replace a barge or ship instead of the proud guy who needs floaties in the swimming pool.The ship or barge in the middle would have a crane or hoist to move the fairing onto the vessel. It may also be an open question if this method can work like the rocket DPL concept where the barge is at a predetermined GPS coordinate. This method may require the ship to chase the fairings within the landing ellipse & the fairings may need a way to identify the landing target & self guide. Not enough information to know what it will be at this point.
There isn't really much customization done to the fairings. We're working towards keeping them very generic, obviously an advantage when you want to eventually reuse them. The goal, at least for the commercial customers, is to get to a basic universal design where the only differences are the logo and antenna setup. The most customization gets done to the payload adapter, of course. But yet, even those are surprisingly the same few basic setups (mostly)
Quote from: JasonAW3 on 03/31/2017 03:49 pmQuote from: matthewkantar on 03/31/2017 01:21 pmIs anyone else surprised the fairing sank? They were close enough to photograph it, they didn't have the gear to retrieve it? Also, isn't it filled with air pockets from the construction method? A sizable piece floated to the Bahamas not so long ago.MatthewEven if the didn't, a couple of float bags with CO2 inflation cartridges would't be too hard to rig. Heck, they could even rig the inflaters to go off when the are immersed in seawater, like the Navy has for their lifeboats.Float bags don't help you find small pieces in the middle of the Atlantic at night.
anyone notice the image before fairing release? In hosted webcast? Mission time 3:43
I guess the fairing landed, but was not recovered. (sunk before they could get to it?)https://twitter.com/SpaceBrendan/status/847599001746644996QuoteBrendan Byrne @SpaceBrendanMusk: Correction, not recovered, but it was directed to a landing area. Will have "bouncy" castle soon.Aha! So it looks like my guess that they will try to land it on an inflated surface was correct.
Brendan Byrne @SpaceBrendanMusk: Correction, not recovered, but it was directed to a landing area. Will have "bouncy" castle soon.