Just a guess but I'd bet the blocks connect to the thrust structure - the very strong framework that the engines are mounted to.
More crazy comments based on personal bias and nothing more. To say that there is some connection between the space shuttle and falcon 9 shows a complete misunderstanding of launchers. Question, what will they say when the test is successful in a couple of days....my guess nothing, zero, squat. I'm really sick of the politics here. It sickens me. And it should sicken anyone who truly has a love of space and spacecraft. This whole debate about rating launchers has been taken over by tea party types that want to take a cheap shot at Obama but attacking not him but, Spacex who does not happen to have a human launch contract. They have a cargo contract only, at least for now. I hope that most of the space community sees through these types and at least looks at the facts.
Quote from: Avron on 03/10/2010 02:31 pmOk.. this may be off-topic, (its not political),, just looking at the images posted on the spacex website.. and was wondering how the vehicle was supported by the four release "blocks".. what I cannot understand is how they interface with the LV and provide counter forces to wind loading on the LV... someone posted a link to the release of the block... alas I cannot download.. but that would not explain the static loads.. anyone ??Take a look at this video from the SpaceX updates page (January 4th update). It shows what a release looks like which gives some insight into how everything hooks together.
Ok.. this may be off-topic, (its not political),, just looking at the images posted on the spacex website.. and was wondering how the vehicle was supported by the four release "blocks".. what I cannot understand is how they interface with the LV and provide counter forces to wind loading on the LV... someone posted a link to the release of the block... alas I cannot download.. but that would not explain the static loads.. anyone ??
Quote from: kevin-rf on 03/10/2010 12:31 pmDoes not mean it will be this way through out powered flight. Once they are clear of the pad and have more room to move, they "could" undo the angle and reduce Cosine losses. That would be atypical for launchers. Normally, they toe out after clearing the pad to reduce flame damage on the pad and maybe get out of there a bit quicker. Zenit does it from what I can see. Delta IV SRMs also. I'm not sure what would be gained the other way around.
Does not mean it will be this way through out powered flight. Once they are clear of the pad and have more room to move, they "could" undo the angle and reduce Cosine losses.
Quote from: strangequark on 03/10/2010 12:58 pmThere were a lot of happy people yesterday in my office. Which is sad, because just a few months ago, those same people were cheering them on.Heh, shows how much they really care about space. I hope such people aren't the majority at KSC.
There were a lot of happy people yesterday in my office. Which is sad, because just a few months ago, those same people were cheering them on.
Quote from: William Barton on 03/10/2010 12:29 pmFor a person likely to lose their job, lashing out at a potential employer doesn't seem to embody much wisdom.No, but fear and envy breed irrationality. Also, most around here know that SpaceX really isn’t hiring, and virtually no one on the KSC side will get picked up. One of the fallouts to the new budget has been for a lot of people here (my little corner of KSC, that is) to view the “commercial guys” as the enemy. ULA rockets tend to be seen as “military” rockets, so most of the anger gets focused on SpaceX. There were a lot of happy people yesterday in my office. Which is sad, because just a few months ago, those same people were cheering them on.
For a person likely to lose their job, lashing out at a potential employer doesn't seem to embody much wisdom.
I must admit I am learning a lot about how rockets work through watching/reading this. I NEVER understood why so much helium was needed for a rocket launch... but now seeing all the purging that is needed it makes sense.. well sort of.. but now with Helium soon to be REALLY expensive what can they cut back on? Can they start the turbo pumps with N2 instead? At cryogenic temps of H2 and Lox, helium is choice gas. but where else can it be replaced?jb
The talk about helium on the updates thread reminds me: what's the status of the helium pipeline that was supposed to go to LC40, did that get done? If so, why do they need the rail cars for storage?
Quote from: corrodedNut on 02/26/2010 08:57 pmThe talk about helium on the updates thread reminds me: what's the status of the helium pipeline that was supposed to go to LC40, did that get done? If so, why do they need the rail cars for storage?I'm going to bump this, and also ask if this is a factor with the spin start issue?
What exactly is a "Dragon qualification spacecraft", just a boilerplate?It's a Dragon that has been subjected to "qualification" testing that proves the design meets all the requirements (structural strength, etc). Go to the SpaceX website and click on "Updates" and scroll down to Sept 23, 2009. They have some good photos and a description of some of the qual testing they did on this Dragon unit (e.g. load testing to simulate parachute loads). Now that they have (presumably) proven to their satisfaction that the design meets all the structural requirements, they can fly it to get whatever flight test data they can (thermal, aero, etc). Don't know how complete this Dragon is (e.g. whether it has RCS thrusters) but others probably can comment on that.
It's a Dragon that has been subjected to "qualification" testing that proves the design meets all the requirements (structural strength, etc). Go to the SpaceX website and click on "Updates" and scroll down to Sept 23, 2009. They have some good photos and a description of some of the qual testing they did on this Dragon unit (e.g. load testing to simulate parachute loads). Now that they have (presumably) proven to their satisfaction that the design meets all the structural requirements, they can fly it to get whatever flight test data they can (thermal, aero, etc). Don't know how complete this Dragon is (e.g. whether it has RCS thrusters) but others probably can comment on that.
Many have speculated that is going to stay attached to the 2nd stage.
The inaugural Falcon 9 flight will place the Dragon spacecraft in a circular orbit about 155 miles high. The empty Dragon will remain attached to the Falcon 9 second stage after achieving orbit.
