Author Topic: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2  (Read 2965332 times)

Offline Semmel

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #680 on: 01/06/2015 07:49 pm »
Phil, what was the source for that timing table?  I don't see it at the link QuantumG left.

Looks like it came from Spaceflight101.com

http://www.spaceflight101.com/dragon-spx-5-mission-updates.html

Scroll down significantly.

Cheers,
Semmel

Offline yg1968

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #681 on: 01/06/2015 07:56 pm »

A delay to ISS scheduling is not the end of the world, it is simply an inconvenience for NASA and a whole bunch of other people.  It happens anyway due to many reasons. OTOH, a loss of a stage that contains valuable data is a bummer for SpaceX.


It is not an inconvenience, it is a large cost to NASA and its partners and if it can be avoided it will.   Just because a delay "can" happen doesn't mean it should.  Spacex can test its stages on its own dime and not wasting NASA's.

I don't think that it will be done for this flight but NASA could negotiate something in exchange for their trouble (extra data that is useful to them, improvements to cargo Dragon, etc.).

But given the fact that SpaceX's ultimate goal is a return to the launch site, they may not be willing to barter much in exchange.
« Last Edit: 01/06/2015 08:16 pm by yg1968 »

Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #682 on: 01/06/2015 08:50 pm »
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6pNMGEIEAEKvyA.jpg
https://twitter.com/dillon_thoms/status/552338774542536705/photo/1
Just hoses and a tarp.

This picture shows holes below the yellow I-Beams.
This is against the theory flooding the deck.

What is to see: this is a heavy construction. Rope could tied on it (see the right side).

The surface of the deck is smooth and pure metal. Sticking friction is low.

My opinion gets stronger: this is against a slipping rocket - of course in a case of medium wawes causing some slowly slippage of the core (if the thrusters cannot compensate enough).
« Last Edit: 01/06/2015 08:54 pm by MTom »

Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #683 on: 01/06/2015 08:51 pm »
See this video about a more extreme situation to explain what I mentioned above.
Interesting from 0:20.

« Last Edit: 01/06/2015 08:53 pm by MTom »

Offline CameronD

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #684 on: 01/07/2015 12:01 am »
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6pNMGEIEAEKvyA.jpg
https://twitter.com/dillon_thoms/status/552338774542536705/photo/1
Just hoses and a tarp.

This picture shows holes below the yellow I-Beams.
This is against the theory flooding the deck.

What is to see: this is a heavy construction. Rope could tied on it (see the right side).

The surface of the deck is smooth and pure metal. Sticking friction is low.

My opinion gets stronger: this is against a slipping rocket - of course in a case of medium wawes causing some slowly slippage of the core (if the thrusters cannot compensate enough).

1. Flooding the deck would be a bad idea for several reasons... but, yes, the presence of those scuppers certainly rules it out.

2. It doesn't seem like slippage is an issue on their radar.  From info posted in other threads, it appears SpaceX have set a range 'go/no go' limit of 6ft on wave height for landing (ie. virtually flat calm for a barge of this size).  If the sea is rougher than this, presumably they'll ditch (sorry, "land") in the ocean nearby.

« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 12:14 am by CameronD »
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #685 on: 01/07/2015 12:15 am »
I believe that in the pre launch conference they were positive that they could handle much larger waves than 6ft, but i dont have an exact quote now.

Offline CameronD

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #686 on: 01/07/2015 12:25 am »
I believe that in the pre launch conference they were positive that they could handle much larger waves than 6ft, but i dont have an exact quote now.

Just because they're positive they can, doesn't mean they will in practice.  You need to set the limits somewhere.
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline robertross

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #687 on: 01/07/2015 12:50 am »
I believe that in the pre launch conference they were positive that they could handle much larger waves than 6ft, but i dont have an exact quote now.

Just because they're positive they can, doesn't mean they will in practice.  You need to set the limits somewhere.

Based on Center of Gravity of the landed stage, they would have figured that out. Welding keepers to the deck surface to secure the stage's feet greatly aids in keeping it stable.

The only difference is between landing and transport. Landing is much more critical, as you could 'theoretically' have the stage topple over if one leg touches as the deck surface pitches up in a hurry. or it could skid across the deck surface.

Offline Darga

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #688 on: 01/07/2015 01:15 am »
Go Quest is coming home according to the latest vesselfinder info. Elsbeth III info has not been updated.

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #689 on: 01/07/2015 01:21 am »
Its moving at 8kts so i dont think they have the ASDS with them. It is probable that Elsbeth III is staying with the ASDS around the landing zone.

Offline PhilW

Its moving at 8kts so i dont think they have the ASDS with them. It is probable that Elsbeth III is staying with the ASDS around the landing zone.
Latest track suggests ElsBeth3 is also on her way to port.

Offline dorkmo

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #691 on: 01/07/2015 03:37 am »
interesting that they are separated and traveling at different speeds. perhaps Elsbeth went to tug asds and GO went on to shore without them?

did anyone tabulate the travel time from port to landing site? maybe like a day and a half? seems like theyll be cutting it close if all theyre doing is going in to refuel or something and then turning back around.

possible theyve been communicated that the second stage problem will take a while to diagnose a fix?
« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 04:28 am by dorkmo »

Offline CameronD

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #692 on: 01/07/2015 04:28 am »
interesting that they are separated and traveling at different speeds. perhaps elsbeth went to go tug and go just went on without them?

did anyone tabulate the travel time from port to landing site? maybe like a day and a half? seems like theyll be cutting it close if all theyre doing is going in to refuel or something and then turning back around.

possible theyve been communicated that the second stage problem will take a while to diagnose a fix?

Whatever they're up to, it would make a lot of sense to leave the ASDS out there.  Maybe the Elsbeth III hung around a bit just to make sure it was ok?

I guess we'll know when they get back to port.
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #693 on: 01/07/2015 01:34 pm »
Attention on deck! This is your moderator speaking!

We're drifting. Engage thrusters and return to the topic please. Further off-topic posts may be hulled and sunk without a trace, all hands lost.

As you were, that is all.

(Awesome topic for discussion, just not here.)
« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 01:36 pm by Lar »
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"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 #694 on: 01/07/2015 02:33 pm »
Vesselfinder says the Elsbeth III was about 110 km offshore at 9:17 UTC. At around 5 knots, that's about a 12 hour trip back to port, arriving around 4:00-4:30 ET this afternoon.

Fascination as at sea, but the APM terminal webcam should be able to catch the arrival and see whether or not the ASDS is in tow, if anyone cares to watch at that time:

http://dataservices.namapmterminals.com/apmt/cameraimage.aspx?address=http://10.1.197.153/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?resolution=352x288
« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 02:44 pm by Kabloona »

Offline Mongo62

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #695 on: 01/07/2015 02:34 pm »
Go Quest is coming home according to the latest vesselfinder info. Elsbeth III info has not been updated.

Latest track suggests ElsBeth3 is also on her way to port.

What is the expected sea state at the planned ASDS location on Friday?

Is it possible that SpaceX has decided not to make the landing attempt due to high seas, and instead wait for a later launch for the first try?
« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 02:36 pm by Mongo62 »

Offline Kabloona

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #696 on: 01/07/2015 02:41 pm »
Weather doesn't look too bad. Winds 15 kts, waves 6-8 feet.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZNT23.KNHC.html
« Last Edit: 01/07/2015 02:42 pm by Kabloona »

Offline yg1968

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #697 on: 01/07/2015 02:47 pm »
Weather doesn't look too bad. Winds 15 kts, waves 6-8 feet.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZNT23.KNHC.html

Isn't 6 to 8 feet over the limit of 6 feet?

Offline Comga

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #698 on: 01/07/2015 02:59 pm »
Weather doesn't look too bad. Winds 15 kts, waves 6-8 feet.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZNT23.KNHC.html

Isn't 6 to 8 feet over the limit of 6 feet?

It's not known to be a "limit".  It is a criterion.  What SpaceX does with that information, should the sea state exceed that level, is not known.
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline Kabloona

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 2
« Reply #699 on: 01/07/2015 03:00 pm »
Weather doesn't look too bad. Winds 15 kts, waves 6-8 feet.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZNT23.KNHC.html

Isn't 6 to 8 feet over the limit of 6 feet?

Do we know what the real "limit" is? IIRC someone reported during the last scrub that they saw on the video feed that one of the SpaceX monitor screens showed that reported wave height was exceeding the "limit." But they were still going to attempt a barge landing anyway.

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