Quote from: Nomadd on 07/13/2018 03:00 pm That's still a little unclear. If BFS can reach orbit on it's own, it would either have to be using vacuum engines at sea level, low level engines in vacuum or have some sort of third type of compromise engine, right?There are a number of plausible modifications that would let it reach orbit, and in some cases carry a nominal payload.As outlined in this thread.As one example, if all the engines have the same bolt pattern, then bolting on four low ratio engines in place of the vacuum bells pretty much works.We don't have enough info - IAC in October with luck.
That's still a little unclear. If BFS can reach orbit on it's own, it would either have to be using vacuum engines at sea level, low level engines in vacuum or have some sort of third type of compromise engine, right?
This is straying from Boca Chica into technical discussions of the BFS, which we know will fly from there.
Quote from: jpo234 on 07/13/2018 10:22 amSpecifically here:QuoteWill be starting with a full-scale Ship doing short hops of a few hundred kilometers altitude and lateral distance. Those are fairly easy on the vehicle, as no heat shield is needed, we can have a large amount of reserve propellant and don't need the high area ratio, deep space Raptor engines.Next step will be doing orbital velocity Ship flights, which will need all of the above. Worth noting that BFS is capable of reaching orbit by itself with low payload, but having the BF Booster increases payload by more than an order of magnitude. Earth is the wrong planet for single stage to orbit. No problemo on Mars. That's still a little unclear. If BFS can reach orbit on it's own, it would either have to be using vacuum engines at sea level, low level engines in vacuum or have some sort of third type of compromise engine, right?
Specifically here:QuoteWill be starting with a full-scale Ship doing short hops of a few hundred kilometers altitude and lateral distance. Those are fairly easy on the vehicle, as no heat shield is needed, we can have a large amount of reserve propellant and don't need the high area ratio, deep space Raptor engines.Next step will be doing orbital velocity Ship flights, which will need all of the above. Worth noting that BFS is capable of reaching orbit by itself with low payload, but having the BF Booster increases payload by more than an order of magnitude. Earth is the wrong planet for single stage to orbit. No problemo on Mars.
Will be starting with a full-scale Ship doing short hops of a few hundred kilometers altitude and lateral distance. Those are fairly easy on the vehicle, as no heat shield is needed, we can have a large amount of reserve propellant and don't need the high area ratio, deep space Raptor engines.Next step will be doing orbital velocity Ship flights, which will need all of the above. Worth noting that BFS is capable of reaching orbit by itself with low payload, but having the BF Booster increases payload by more than an order of magnitude. Earth is the wrong planet for single stage to orbit. No problemo on Mars.
One more reason to pay for L2. With things picking up in Boca Chica, some items are going to start getting posted there. Not the way I would have chosen, but the potential for sensitive information getting out is growing, and bad people are already abusing some of the photos and information they see here.
I'd be happy to visit an L2 SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Update thread.
The facility is a key part of SpaceX’s future plans. While the company currently leases three launch facilities from the United States government, the privately-owned Boca Chica spaceport would mean the company would have full control over its launch plans. At the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, in March, Musk suggested that an orbital launch of the BFR could come as soon as 2020.
Primary plan was actually to launch Falcon 9's and Heavies from BC, with a possibility of later upgrading to BFR. But with 3 active pads and the ability for quicker and quicker turnarounds it seems that the manifest can go pretty smoothly which led to SpaceX apparently dedicating BC to the BFR effort.
Quote from: Beittil on 07/17/2018 12:48 pmPrimary plan was actually to launch Falcon 9's and Heavies from BC, with a possibility of later upgrading to BFR. But with 3 active pads and the ability for quicker and quicker turnarounds it seems that the manifest can go pretty smoothly which led to SpaceX apparently dedicating BC to the BFR effort.This is conjecture, but I do not believe you are looking at it from the right angle. The reason that BC is perfect is not because it's going so well elsewhere that they can afford to not use BC, it is because it is going so well at their other three current pads and they do not want to disrupt that. Falcon Heavy could not be prepped for efficiently while SLC-40 was out of commission. Prepping for BFR at 39A would mean taking commercial crew offline, FH offline, and also making the backup pad for SLC-40 offline. Much more sensible to use Boca Chica beach.
Do they have the necessary FAA approval to run BC as a test facility?
I have been wondering about the safety zone required for something as large as a BFS fully fueled and hopping up and down and flying around.That's a lot of potential energy flying around.Do they have the necessary FAA approval to run BC as a test facility?
Part of the EIS would be potential for contamination if something went wrong. That's going to be a different issue with methane instead of kerosene. It could go with a full fuel load eventually. Launch to the east, turn the camera around and watch it come back from the west. Just land 50 feet shy of the launch point and you can still call it a suborbital test. (In a relative way at least)
For BFS test hops, could they use one of their landing zones in Florida?