Author Topic: Rebuilding SLC-40  (Read 355949 times)

Offline jpo234

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #560 on: 11/05/2017 07:56 pm »
Thanks!

I've read an article recently and notice that SpaceX chills the RP-1 from ambient temperature down to approximately -7°C. What method do they employ to chill the RP-1? And I want to clarify did I understand correctly if they have ambient temperature for example +20°C they will chill down the RP-1 till +13°C or they will chill it down to -7°C?

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/677666779494248449

Quote
@lukealization yes, from 70F to 20 F

20F is -6,66667°C, so the -7°C is about right.
« Last Edit: 11/05/2017 07:59 pm by jpo234 »
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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #561 on: 11/05/2017 08:12 pm »
The LOX sphere at SLC-40 is from Apollo. SpaceX salvaged it.
is it one from SLC-34 or SLC-37 Pad A/Pad B??

Offline jpo234

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #562 on: 11/05/2017 08:23 pm »
The LOX sphere at SLC-40 is from Apollo. SpaceX salvaged it.
is it one from SLC-34 or SLC-37 Pad A/Pad B??
I read 34. The article included this image:


« Last Edit: 11/05/2017 08:28 pm by jpo234 »
You want to be inspired by things. You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great. That's what being a spacefaring civilization is all about. It's about believing in the future and believing the future will be better than the past. And I can't think of anything more exciting than being out there among the stars.

Offline Alesandro

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #563 on: 11/06/2017 05:46 pm »
Thanks!

I've read an article recently and notice that SpaceX chills the RP-1 from ambient temperature down to approximately -7°C. What method do they employ to chill the RP-1? And I want to clarify did I understand correctly if they have ambient temperature for example +20°C they will chill down the RP-1 till +13°C or they will chill it down to -7°C?

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/677666779494248449

Quote
@lukealization yes, from 70F to 20 F

20F is -6,66667°C, so the -7°C is about right.

Thank you for the link!
Unfortunately, Elon did not answer about the equipment for chilled RP-1. Do you have any conjectures how he chills RP-1?

Offline wannamoonbase

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #564 on: 11/06/2017 06:09 pm »
Thanks!

I've read an article recently and notice that SpaceX chills the RP-1 from ambient temperature down to approximately -7°C. What method do they employ to chill the RP-1? And I want to clarify did I understand correctly if they have ambient temperature for example +20°C they will chill down the RP-1 till +13°C or they will chill it down to -7°C?

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/677666779494248449

Quote
@lukealization yes, from 70F to 20 F

20F is -6,66667°C, so the -7°C is about right.

Thank you for the link!
Unfortunately, Elon did not answer about the equipment for chilled RP-1. Do you have any conjectures how he chills RP-1?

-7C is a high enough temperature that one could easily use a commercial chiller with a glycol solution and run it through a heat exchanger, likely a plate and frame. 

No need to get exotic or use a consumable.
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Offline Lar

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #565 on: 11/06/2017 06:24 pm »
How RP1 is chilled is off topic.
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Offline oiorionsbelt

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #566 on: 11/07/2017 12:36 am »
How RP1 is chilled is off topic.
Unless someone were to explain how SpaceX accomplishes this with the GSE at SLC-40, that would be cool.


(no pun intended)

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #567 on: 11/22/2017 03:18 pm »
SLC-40's comeback closing in. At least one visual sighting of the new TEL being rolled out and erected at the pad (likely for fit checks). Big test will be the Static Fire for CRS-13 next week. TEL certainly appears to be on track to support!
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Offline Scylla

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #568 on: 11/29/2017 07:50 pm »
SpaceX - Pad 40 - New Strongback Vertical 11-29-2017
USLaunchReport

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Offline SPITexas

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #569 on: 12/05/2017 03:50 pm »
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/05/spacex-now-targeting-dec-12-launch-iss-supplies-ksc/922714001/

From December 4th to December 8th to December 9th too now December 12th hopefully we get to see this launch soon. Hopefully.

Offline AncientU

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #570 on: 12/05/2017 07:56 pm »
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/05/spacex-now-targeting-dec-12-launch-iss-supplies-ksc/922714001/

From December 4th to December 8th to December 9th too now December 12th hopefully we get to see this launch soon. Hopefully.

LC-40 was supposed to be available in August, if you recall.  Then September...

Good thing LC-39A was up and running, or there would have been zero or one East Coast launch in 2017.
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Offline JBF

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #571 on: 12/05/2017 08:26 pm »
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/05/spacex-now-targeting-dec-12-launch-iss-supplies-ksc/922714001/

From December 4th to December 8th to December 9th too now December 12th hopefully we get to see this launch soon. Hopefully.

LC-40 was supposed to be available in August, if you recall.  Then September...

Good thing LC-39A was up and running, or there would have been zero or one East Coast launch in 2017.

If LC-39A was not ready you would have seen them really move rapidly on SLC-40.  Since they had a back-up every indication is that they did not just rebuild it, but made a lot of improvements to it.  Rebuilding something exactly how it was it relatively easy and fast. All the design work is done you just have to clear out the damage, repair and replace.  The key driver will be the re-manufacture of parts. Improving the pad as you go takes time; since  first you have to complete the new design, then manufacturer parts and finally install them.
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Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #572 on: 12/05/2017 09:39 pm »
No surprise little delays. Bit of a surprise they got it ready this fast, given the earlier deleted pictures that looked like to me that another few months were in store.

Nice to see the pictures of the TEL, although they're not detailed enough to show if anything is missing (looks a little "bare").

What we have not seen are the fit checks and any WDR/cold flow. These you'd like to see well before a hotfire/launch.

Offline Formica

Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #573 on: 12/05/2017 10:12 pm »
If LC-39A was not ready you would have seen them really move rapidly on SLC-40.  Since they had a back-up every indication is that they did not just rebuild it, but made a lot of improvements to it.  Rebuilding something exactly how it was it relatively easy and fast. All the design work is done you just have to clear out the damage, repair and replace.  The key driver will be the re-manufacture of parts. Improving the pad as you go takes time; since  first you have to complete the new design, then manufacturer parts and finally install them.

Mmhmm. We know from General Monteith's recent public statements that SLC-40 has been improved pretty dramatically, up-armoring many above ground components and moving key infrastructure underground. He believes a RUD similar to AMOS-6 would only knock out SLC-40 for two months, now. Quite a lot of improvement, I'd say  :)

Offline AncientU

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #574 on: 12/05/2017 10:21 pm »
If the improvements get them to a two-week cadence* instead of the three to four week one prior to AMOS, then the extra effort will quickly pay for itself.

* Potentially one week when static fires go away with Block 5 reflights.
« Last Edit: 12/05/2017 10:24 pm by AncientU »
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Offline IanThePineapple

Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #575 on: 12/05/2017 10:26 pm »
If the improvements get them to a two-week cadence* instead of the three to four week one prior to AMOS, then the extra effort will quickly pay for itself.

* Potentially one week when static fires go away with Block 5 reflights.

I wouldn't be surprised if they implemented lessons learned from 39A into 40 and might have gotten turnaround time to less than 2 weeks (I'd guess around 10-12 days)

Offline Flying Beaver

Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #576 on: 12/05/2017 10:37 pm »
If the improvements get them to a two-week cadence* instead of the three to four week one prior to AMOS, then the extra effort will quickly pay for itself.

* Potentially one week when static fires go away with Block 5 reflights.

I wouldn't be surprised if they implemented lessons learned from 39A into 40 and might have gotten turnaround time to less than 2 weeks (I'd guess around 10-12 days)

The pad itself at 39A has never been the issue, it's by all accounts ready to launch again immediately. Processing another Booster/S2/Payload in the HIF, rolling the TEL back, as well as prop delivery, are where the turnaround constraints lie.
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Offline woods170

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #577 on: 12/06/2017 06:43 am »
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/05/spacex-now-targeting-dec-12-launch-iss-supplies-ksc/922714001/

From December 4th to December 8th to December 9th too now December 12th hopefully we get to see this launch soon. Hopefully.

LC-40 was supposed to be available in August, if you recall.  Then September...

Good thing LC-39A was up and running, or there would have been zero or one East Coast launch in 2017.

It began with SpaceX announcing (in January 2017) that LC-40 would be back in action in the summer of 2017. That quickly became August. Next it was delayed to September and then it became November. We are now in December and the first launch is (fortunately) rapidly approaching.

But, given the experience we have with the overly optimistic estimates coming from SpaceX it really should be no surprise that LC-40 re-activation took 5 months longer than originally announced.

Online guckyfan

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #578 on: 12/06/2017 07:11 am »
At least part of the delay was the decision to work on both pads in parallel, to get LC-39A ready for FH. Another part was very likely the decision to build a very much enhanced LC-40.

Initially I think the plan was to rebuild LC-40 as is as fast as possible. Maybe they switched because LC-39A worked very well after initial bugs were ironed out.

Plus of course, there are always delays.

Offline Johnnyhinbos

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #579 on: 12/06/2017 09:59 am »
At least part of the delay was the decision to work on both pads in parallel, to get LC-39A ready for FH. Another part was very likely the decision to build a very much enhanced LC-40.

Initially I think the plan was to rebuild LC-40 as is as fast as possible. Maybe they switched because LC-39A worked very well after initial bugs were ironed out.

Plus of course, there are always delays.
One thing also worth mentioning is that quite often baked into the  ETDF (Elon Time Dilution Factor) is an outcome that is often enhanced in some way more than the original expectation.

In this case, as guckyfan mentions, SpaceX took the lessons learned from both the incident that destroyed the pad as well as from the knowledge gained from ops at 39A and applied them to the design and rebuild of 40. Sort of a LC-40 1.1
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