Quote from: Phyto on 02/14/2013 06:29 pmSince both of ULA's rockets (Atlas V and Delta IV) have had good success with ex- & rebuilt Russian/Soviet engines.Which engine on Delta IV is Russian/Soviet? And which is one on Atlas is rebuilt?
Since both of ULA's rockets (Atlas V and Delta IV) have had good success with ex- & rebuilt Russian/Soviet engines.
I can only assume that Orbital is not telling us all the details, because it seems odd that a helium purge level (?) issue would lead to a two week delay until the next hotfire attempt. Or am I missing something?
Should the next hot fire attempt prove to be successful, the first stage test article will be returned to the Horizontal Integration Facility where the core and two engines will be refurbished for a later flight.
How long would you expect a "helium purge level" or nitrogen purge as actually mentioned in the release should take to fix? Neither of us has the slightest idea on what, specifically, went wrong so neither of us should assume a given turnaround time is too long.
Quote from: ugordan on 02/14/2013 07:42 pmHow long would you expect a "helium purge level" or nitrogen purge as actually mentioned in the release should take to fix? Neither of us has the slightest idea on what, specifically, went wrong so neither of us should assume a given turnaround time is too long.Right, when the computers shutdown the SpaceX hot fire test due to some parameter being out of range, SpaceX just changed the ranges on that parameter instead of determining why it was out of range. Orbital is trying to learn about the performance of their rocket, and are taking their time to investigate all of the issues.
For all we know it might indicate that the purge system is not able to deliver enough N2 for purging. Instead of a software tweak, it may require new plumbing, which will take time.
Orbital has been doing this for a long time, if they say it will take a week to get all the ducks in a row
Just because they identified the cause does not mean the fix is easy. For all we know it might indicate that the purge system is not able to deliver enough N2 for purging. Instead of a software tweak, it may require new plumbing, which will take time. Orbital has been doing this for a long time, if they say it will take a week to get all the ducks in a row, then Antonioe will have all his ducks in a row before they try again. They decided to not fix it on the fly and try again. Though I do suspect the Antares could be used to make a mean Peking Duck!
I'm not saying they should. Just noting the apparent discrepancy between the problem and the fix time.
Quote from: Jim on 02/14/2013 06:32 pmQuote from: Phyto on 02/14/2013 06:29 pmSince both of ULA's rockets (Atlas V and Delta IV) have had good success with ex- & rebuilt Russian/Soviet engines.Which engine on Delta IV is Russian/Soviet? And which is one on Atlas is rebuilt? Boy, now I've got to go do some more (re)search. (Edit) Maybe I'm confusing the common 2nd stage for linking the two; an Atlas V launch having been delayed due to a problem with a Delta IV launch. (end Edit) I'll get back to you with the answer , or stand corrected .(2nd Edit)Phew! that wasn't so hard. Please check: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/427652main_PMC_2010_Pech_Russian.pdfRussian RD-180 Rocket Engine for Atlas V Launch Vehicle - Slide date: 10 Feb 2010So, it looks like I was wrong about the rebuilt part. So much info, so little time. . . I know, excuses, excuses.
NK family is cursed,
Quote from: Phyto on 02/14/2013 06:37 pmQuote from: Jim on 02/14/2013 06:32 pmQuote from: Phyto on 02/14/2013 06:29 pmSince both of ULA's rockets (Atlas V and Delta IV) have had good success with ex- & rebuilt Russian/Soviet engines.Which engine on Delta IV is Russian/Soviet? And which is one on Atlas is rebuilt? Boy, now I've got to go do some more (re)search. (Edit) Maybe I'm confusing the common 2nd stage for linking the two; an Atlas V launch having been delayed due to a problem with a Delta IV launch. (end Edit) I'll get back to you with the answer , or stand corrected .(2nd Edit)Phew! that wasn't so hard. Please check: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/427652main_PMC_2010_Pech_Russian.pdfRussian RD-180 Rocket Engine for Atlas V Launch Vehicle - Slide date: 10 Feb 2010So, it looks like I was wrong about the rebuilt part. So much info, so little time. . . I know, excuses, excuses.yup, that's RD-180 on Atlas V, Delta IV doesn't use any russian engine. NK family is cursed, N1 was a disaster. Rpk tried to use it and went bankruptcy. Antrares got delayed, how many time exactly?
Antrares got delayed, how many time exactly?
call me superstition, hey nasa still pass peanuts every space launch.