It is possible Blue Origin will put New Glenn through a few suborbital launches with a simulated upperstage/payload before the first orbital launch, just to work out the bugs with recovery and reduce risk. I would be surprised in fact if this was not the plan. They haven't shown any evidence of being recklesssly hasty yet.
Saw the ceiling cranes being delivered this morning at the factory under construction just outside KSC.
A sign of the times ... @blueorigin sign now at main entrance.
Steven C. Smith @WordsmithFLThe ceiling cranes delivered yesterday to the @blueorigin factory. https://t.co/nwaBgwPLvB
My god those things are massive... Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Quote from: Req on 10/21/2017 11:14 pmMy god those things are massive... Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lolMaybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..
Quote from: launchwatcher on 10/22/2017 01:25 pmQuote from: Req on 10/21/2017 11:14 pmMy god those things are massive... Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lolMaybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..No.
Quote from: Lars-J on 10/25/2017 12:13 amQuote from: launchwatcher on 10/22/2017 01:25 pmQuote from: Req on 10/21/2017 11:14 pmMy god those things are massive... Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lolMaybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..No.Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.
They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.
Quote from: https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/921736200641306624Steven C. Smith @WordsmithFLThe ceiling cranes delivered yesterday to the @blueorigin factory. https://t.co/nwaBgwPLvB
Quote from: envy887 on 10/25/2017 01:14 amThey could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.Anticipating building New Armstrong there too?
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 10/26/2017 05:33 amQuote from: envy887 on 10/25/2017 01:14 amThey could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.Anticipating building New Armstrong there too?NA is likely be 3-5 performance of NG, so diameter that will take 21-35 engines.
Quote from: envy887 on 10/25/2017 01:14 amQuote from: Lars-J on 10/25/2017 12:13 amQuote from: launchwatcher on 10/22/2017 01:25 pmQuote from: Req on 10/21/2017 11:14 pmMy god those things are massive... Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lolMaybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..No.Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.A flawed way of thinking, IMO. Let me give you an example... The Pad 39A hangar has an opening that is ~12m high (or more) SURELY that means that it was sized to allow processing of a 12m diameter BFR, right?!?!? No.You always need lots of clearance and extra margins in the factories. You don't squeeze out products that barely fit through external doors.
...Using the numbers in these posts, Blue's facility (compared to 39A) is about an extra 6m taller for a booster that is an extra 3 m in diameter. seems like these numbers imply they can keep 39A's margins and make a 10m booster. (Actually 39A HIF door seems sized with relatively small margins around the base of the TEL, so your claim and this extrapolation aren't valid)...
Logos up! @BlueOrigin's New Glenn factory at KSC getting close. Across the street, OneWeb facility also coming together.