And a fine piece of journalism it is, sir.I doff my hat in your general direction (I would hit your tip jar, if you had one).
Did I understand correctly that they are removing (some of) the brick from the trench or just the old flame deflector?
Still hard to image any rocket engines generating as much blast force as five F-1s.
Quote from: AS_501 on 02/06/2015 05:34 pm Still hard to image any rocket engines generating as much blast force as five F-1s.One 5 segment SRB is more than 2 F-1s and has a more blast force during ignition. Much easier to build flame deflector for F-1s than SRB's
To answer spacenut's and Halidon's queries, as well as follow-on to AS_501 and Jim, the trench and deflector is being fabricated to specs for "advanced boosters"--that is, fiber wound case (FWC) units that have even higher over-pressure than the 5-segs (which are much higher than even the "tuned up" 4-seg boosters used on STS-124). It should be noted that the F-1s ramped up in thrust (and acoustical energy) over a number of seconds, while the SRBs exert a massive amount of OP at ignition (see transient overpressure vs MEOP [Mean Effective Operating Pressure]).One of the coating materials used in lieu of the old bricks to withstand the OP and heat is "fondue fyre". I can't imagine another rocket that will create the same sonic, thermal and OP as the notional FWC, or even the 5 segs, but we'll see (at least from 39B, a-hem). Any other rocket that flies from 39B would only be constrained by orientation, not output.I'm still of a mind the first launch of SLS (should it actually come to pass) will prove to be a learning experience re: pad substrate, structure and MLP/LUT.
Fascinating perspectives, thanks. Probably a silly point here, but I wonder if there would be any value in staging some trench materials behind an SRB test motor in Utah, without compromising SRB test objectives. Also, any indication if they will conduct an FRF on the first SLS?
Interesting, thanks. Do SRBs create a "sand-blasting" effect (from any un-burnt propellent?) on the trench that liquid engines do not?
Not just unburnt but the primary fuel is aluminum, so it is very corrosive.
That would be splitting hairs.
Exhaust will not be split. All to the north.
Quote from: newpylong on 02/06/2015 08:08 pmExhaust will not be split. All to the north.Wasn't Saturn V's exhaust split? I'd assume so as 39A and B were built with both north and south flame duts. If so, why wouldn't SLS's be split too then?