That's a little like saying that Apollo 8 wasn't historic when man first orbited the moon, what was historic was Apollo 11 when man landed on the moon. If you think that way, we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that point.
Finally, I think we'll see the automated refueling and relaunch procedures also tested out in NM first.
Quote from: sghill on 03/20/2015 11:53 amFinally, I think we'll see the automated refueling and relaunch procedures also tested out in NM first.What "automated refueling procedures"? Why would they be any different than what currently exists?
It's not just the refueling but all ground handling that they want to automate (where feasible, anyway).
Yes, of course there isn't anyone physically at the rocket moving valves. If they used driverless vehicles it would mean the computers controlling them are able to make human-like decisions about their surroundings and that we are confident that these decisions are correct. If this was actually accomplished I can think of lots of other places where a human makes a decision that a computer could now make that decision with the same amount of confidence.
Then, once mated, so I hear, people crawl around making connections. I mean, one of the main arguments given why rapid reuse is impossible is that my god just stage mating takes days.
Quote from: meekGee on 03/20/2015 05:09 pm Then, once mated, so I hear, people crawl around making connections. I mean, one of the main arguments given why rapid reuse is impossible is that my god just stage mating takes days.Because connector pins recess or get bend, unless the pins are the size of a pinkie finger.
Which is where a more automated design comes in.
Quote from: Jim on 03/20/2015 05:59 pmQuote from: meekGee on 03/20/2015 05:09 pm Then, once mated, so I hear, people crawl around making connections. I mean, one of the main arguments given why rapid reuse is impossible is that my god just stage mating takes days.Because connector pins recess or get bend, unless the pins are the size of a pinkie finger.Which is where a more automated design comes in.
Quote from: meekGee on 03/20/2015 06:01 pmWhich is where a more automated design comes in.And how are they going accommodate all the connectors with scores of these fat fingered pins?
Quote from: Dudely on 03/20/2015 05:00 pmYes, of course there isn't anyone physically at the rocket moving valves. If they used driverless vehicles it would mean the computers controlling them are able to make human-like decisions about their surroundings and that we are confident that these decisions are correct. If this was actually accomplished I can think of lots of other places where a human makes a decision that a computer could now make that decision with the same amount of confidence. My point was there isn't anymore real automation they can add.
Quote from: meekGee on 03/20/2015 06:01 pmQuote from: Jim on 03/20/2015 05:59 pmBecause connector pins recess or get bend, unless the pins are the size of a pinkie finger.Which is where a more automated design comes in.It is very difficult to move large structures around with any precision. I don't think automation is the answer, since that would be difficult and expense to develop. I think a new look at engineering to reduce the time would be the best move.Do all the connecters have to line up at once? Seems to me you would want to mechanically connect the stages with a few pins and then connect wiring harnesses through access hatches. Am I missing something in this discussion?
Quote from: Jim on 03/20/2015 05:59 pmBecause connector pins recess or get bend, unless the pins are the size of a pinkie finger.Which is where a more automated design comes in.
Because connector pins recess or get bend, unless the pins are the size of a pinkie finger.
Quote from: abaddon on 03/20/2015 03:14 pmThat's a little like saying that Apollo 8 wasn't historic when man first orbited the moon, what was historic was Apollo 11 when man landed on the moon. If you think that way, we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that point.The equivalent of Apollo 8 for reuse has already happen, whether it was the Gemini 2 capsule, Columbia or STS-1 SRB's