Author Topic: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2  (Read 2965266 times)

Offline PhilW

Nice clear view of those thrusters :) What is the source of these new pics PhilW?
Photos here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-readies-rocket-for-station-launch-barge-landing/

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #181 on: 12/23/2014 01:19 pm »
2090 Mhz sounds more like a radar frequency. It could be used for ranging or transponders. Depending on where they are, it can also be spread spectrum, which is a lot harder to listen in on.

I doubt radar, 2090 MHz is cell phone/2-way radio/GPS/WiFi frequency (UHF band). Sounds like comms with the support boat, or maybe transponder as you say.

Radars are usually 8 GHz and higher.
2090 Mhz is higher than most cell and GPS and lower than wi-fi. L and S band radars are very common.
« Last Edit: 12/23/2014 01:44 pm by Nomadd »
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline Kabloona

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #182 on: 12/23/2014 01:41 pm »
Actually, I tried more like 20 minutes of Googling. And I'm not an expert yet? Darn. ;)

Nevertheless, my own cell phone carrier T-mobile uses AWS band (1700-2100 MHz) for 3G and 4G service. So 2090 MHz is not, in fact, higher than cell frequency.
« Last Edit: 12/23/2014 01:45 pm by Kabloona »

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #183 on: 12/23/2014 01:52 pm »
Actually, I tried more like 20 minutes of Googling. And I'm not an expert yet? Darn. ;)

Nevertheless, my own cell phone carrier T-mobile uses AWS band (1700-2100 MHz) for 3G and 4G service. So 2090 MHz is not, in fact, higher than cell frequency.

True, but I've never seen the higher freqs used where I've been. Doesn't mean much since I haven't worked everywhere. But they do still use that range for air search and radar transponder in places. Offshore is going to be different and I could be behind times in the great reassignment of S-band to cell use. Spread spectrum in that range was largely unlicensed which would be almost impossible to change since the FCC has little control over existing systems that use it.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline Eer

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #184 on: 12/23/2014 02:32 pm »
OK, pics and video from several bridge locations taken to provide some parallax. Guys at guard shack were polite but insistent. Barge area of port is restricted area. But you can wangle some tours/photo ops of cruise ship as it em/disembarks. Working that angle, but takes time to get background check.  Will sort through and upload pics and videos later in day. Took about an hour of time. Wife thinks I'm nuts. 14 yo boy wouldn't let me bring his AR Drone, because we're both lousy pilots.
From "The Rhetoric of Interstellar Flight", by Paul Gilster, March 10, 2011: We’ll build a future in space one dogged step at a time, and when asked how long humanity will struggle before reaching the stars, we’ll respond, “As long as it takes.”

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #185 on: 12/23/2014 03:55 pm »
OK, pics and video from several bridge locations taken to provide some parallax. Guys at guard shack were polite but insistent. Barge area of port is restricted area. But you can wangle some tours/photo ops of cruise ship as it em/disembarks. Working that angle, but takes time to get background check.  Will sort through and upload pics and videos later in day. Took about an hour of time. Wife thinks I'm nuts. 14 yo boy wouldn't let me bring his AR Drone, because we're both lousy pilots.

You ARE nuts. But it's a good kind. Thanks for your efforts, looking forward to what you have to share. And probably wise on the drone, even if you were good pilots... likely to set off alarm bells.
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Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #186 on: 12/23/2014 06:56 pm »
Nice clear view of those thrusters :) What is the source of these new pics PhilW?
Photos here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-readies-rocket-for-station-launch-barge-landing/

Interesting: on the CBSNews pics the side extensions are not to see (yet?)

BTW:
This extension is strong enough to hold the ramp itself.
Could it hold a rocket leg if necessary too?


(Remark: The yellow circles are from the original pics from PhilW about the thrusters...)
« Last Edit: 12/23/2014 07:19 pm by MTom »

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #187 on: 12/23/2014 08:13 pm »
 Can't see much, but that hull looks a lot like an old 310', 42,000 BBL barge we sold after it wound up on top of a levee during Katrina. Sold it for a dollar, and the old river rat who salvaged it turned around and resold it for $5 million. It was multi compartment and much sturdier than your average liquids barge.
 Could those extensions be fold up safety barriers like they have on some helo decks?
« Last Edit: 12/23/2014 08:16 pm by Nomadd »
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline IslandPlaya

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #188 on: 12/23/2014 11:32 pm »
The extensions don't fold up. It is clear.
Docking at the bay, they don't fold.

Offline Eer

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #189 on: 12/24/2014 01:16 am »
Okay, I'll begin my report after my failed attempt to talk my way past the security guards (I did ask if a tour was available, or an escort, to let me get down towards the barge, but the answer was no).  Interestingly, the guard shack officer thought I was there to try to take some pictures of the disembarking passengers (of which there were none - the Cruise ship was not tied up), and suggested I come back about 7:30am on Monday when the ship was due to return ... wonder what might be visible, then, or from whence.

Basically, the port area around the dock in this area, at least, is restricted to passengers with tickets and ID, or with authorized passes from SpaceX media.

So, I drove back out and parked near the entrance road.  Here are some shots to establish the context.

IMG_2035.JPG is looking back from across August Street towards where I parked.
IMC_2039.JPG is looking towards the bridge as I walked towards it.

I had two cameras - a Canon Rebel XTi EOS digital with 28-135 zoom lens, and a Sony HDD HandyCam with Zeiss lens and 20x digital zoom, advertising 6.1 megapixels for still shots.

Interestingly enough to me, the Sony HandyCam produced more clear still shots than the max-zoomed Canon.  I have about 160 shots with the Canon, 30 with the Sony, and 5 AVCHD videos ranging in length from 11 seconds to one long one at 2 minutes 32 seconds (two or three pans across the area).

I stopped at several places to take pictures as I crossed the bridge, and then took more as I returned. 

The IMG named files are taken with the Canon.  The DSC named files are taken with the Sony.

I don't know how to embed pictures, so I'm attaching them.  PM me off line with instructions, if it matters.

DSC00206.JPG, 207 and 208 are a sequence of shots of the "interesting" white tubes on their carrier flatbeds.  The set on the left appear to be labeled "Helium Compressed", and the right carrier I have trouble reading - Nitrogen, perhaps?

A blue and green rigs of some sort appear to their right.  DSC00210.JPG includes three more green rigs that are smaller.

Other than that, general work area stuff, maybe welding tanks, etc.
DSC00209.JPG looks like a trailer office area.

More to come.
From "The Rhetoric of Interstellar Flight", by Paul Gilster, March 10, 2011: We’ll build a future in space one dogged step at a time, and when asked how long humanity will struggle before reaching the stars, we’ll respond, “As long as it takes.”

Offline Eer

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #190 on: 12/24/2014 01:30 am »
Until I learn to embed, rather than attach, pictures (which I understand is what's desireable), I'll just post these two more pictures of the barge itself.

DSC00211.JPG captures what appears to be the stern of the barge - how did I get that?

DSC00232.JPG captures the profile of the port bow quarter of the barge.

I'll wait to hear from someone for guidance on how to load additional pictures and the videos.
From "The Rhetoric of Interstellar Flight", by Paul Gilster, March 10, 2011: We’ll build a future in space one dogged step at a time, and when asked how long humanity will struggle before reaching the stars, we’ll respond, “As long as it takes.”

Offline QuantumG

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #191 on: 12/24/2014 01:40 am »
Attaching is preferred to embedding. Thanks for posting.
Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline PhilW

Until I learn to embed, rather than attach, pictures (which I understand is what's desireable), I'll just post these two more pictures of the barge itself.
Nice pics. Well done.

There appears to be a Red deluge gun, sticking up into the air, at each end of the ASDS. There to provide a heat shield spray for the containers?

Also the low Yellow wall appears to be sort of water tight and wraps around the entire landing pad area. Maybe used to enable a flood of the landing pad area ~0.5m deep just before F9 touchdown?

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #193 on: 12/24/2014 02:15 am »
Attaching is preferred to embedding. Thanks for posting.


Yes, please do attach. When you attach you can attach the max size you have. Embedding means you're limited in size to small enough to not scroll. And that you have to have a place elsewhere to host them.

You can attach up to 10 to a post without too much trouble, but the more you attach in one post the longer that post will take to clear.

Hope that helps ...and you've ALREADY given lots of fat to chew on... all those trailers look like high pressure gasses. And why so MANY cherrypickers?

Tell your wife we love her for putting up with you. :)
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"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline Kabloona

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #194 on: 12/24/2014 02:20 am »
Thanks to Eer for the big effort!

Note to early/late birds: Carnival Fascination due back in port 8:00 am Eastern time Wednesday. Watch their forward-facing webcam (Google it) for live view of the ASDS as Fascination docks.
« Last Edit: 12/24/2014 02:21 am by Kabloona »

Offline NWade

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #195 on: 12/24/2014 06:55 am »
Great pics, thanks!
 
And more good news: I see at least 2 cameras (look for the white housings) on the stern of the barge (one to the left of the deluge cannon, and either a fish-eye or 4-way camera on the right).
 
Not sure if the final camera is of the other end of the barge; but if so I think there is at least 1 more camera - possibly a PTZ model (again, look for the white housing on top of the beige container above/behind the "QUEST" in Go Quest's name).
 
--Noel
 

Offline Ohsin

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #196 on: 12/24/2014 08:36 am »
(snip)....
DSC00206.JPG, 207 and 208 are a sequence of shots of the "interesting" white tubes on their carrier flatbeds.  The set on the left appear to be labeled "Helium Compressed", and the right carrier I have trouble reading - Nitrogen, perhaps?
...(snip)

Great stuff!!  ;D

Yeah looks like 'Helium Compressed' 'Nitrogen Compressed' written along with following label
http://www.diamondlabels.com/p/UN+1046+Non-Flammable+Gas+Placards/1555/

Also notice those relatively smaller blue box on ASDS share same insignia as another pair of blue boxes on ground next to compressed gas trailers, not sure if they are same but looks like same company made them. Two pipes are entering that container and it appears like a red deluge gun is there on top here and another is also partly visible on second image. Plenty of flood lights all over big ones towards deck :). May be 360 Dome CCTV camera looking up :) . First time we can see underneath work platforms attached to wings...don't look stowable with all those supports may its just for service when on port. Little of deck that is visible looks smooth.

...
 And why so MANY cherrypickers?
...

Port equipment I guess.You can spot green one in 'Fascination' images.

In cbnews image from front you can see two out of three more unidentified yellow bits. One seems to have national oilwell varco's stripes on it. Their height is lower than NOV fuel tanks (four). Also the above mentioned blue box is missing on this image.
« Last Edit: 12/24/2014 09:04 am by Ohsin »
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Offline Ohsin

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #197 on: 12/24/2014 11:07 am »
Good morning Mr Barge :)

"Well, three cheers to Sharma, but our real baby is INSAT."

Offline cartman

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #198 on: 12/24/2014 11:46 am »
And here it is in the same position as last time

Offline joncz

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #199 on: 12/24/2014 11:57 am »
This looks like standing water, which would be difficult to achieve on a grid surface.

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