Author Topic: SpaceX: Falcon 9 Hotfire Updates (Read 92664 times)

Swatch · « **Reply #140 on:** 03/09/2010 07:40 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 03/09/2010 07:20 pm

Also, how big of an TEA-TEB bang are we talking about? Hearing a bang at a distance is not something you'd want with this, could it be observers intepreting the initial thrust buildup (there was some smoke coming out the flame trench) before cutoff as a bang instead? Or did something really blow down there.

Haha, it is, afterall, a rocket engine.

Rumor has it that they can be loud sometimes.

mr. mark · « **Reply #141 on:** 03/09/2010 07:42 pm »

On the spaceflightnow.com website they have a picture of the test fire or abort? Question why would the first stage still be venting if the first stage was firing? This seems strange, especially after I noticed that venting had stopped prior to ignition?

stockman · « **Reply #142 on:** 03/09/2010 07:43 pm »

looks like all venting has stopped now...

ugordan · « **Reply #143 on:** 03/09/2010 07:45 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 03/09/2010 07:42 pm

On the spaceflightnow.com website they have a picture of the test fire or abort? Question why would the first stage still be venting if the first stage was firing?

Image is immediately after cutoff so the vehicle presumably started safing itself automatically. The fireball could have conceivably started rising after cutoff. Or not. Hard to figure out the timeline with no countdown clock. There does appear to have been some chamber combustion ramp-up as the ice started being shaken off the stage. Not sure if turbopump spinup alone would have done that.

just-nick · « **Reply #144 on:** 03/09/2010 08:00 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 03/09/2010 07:42 pm

On the spaceflightnow.com website they have a picture of the test fire or abort? Question why would the first stage still be venting if the first stage was firing? This seems strange, especially after I noticed that venting had stopped prior to ignition?

I noticed that too -- and I admit I was only half watching and was caught by surprise, but it looked like the venting was going on concurrent with the ignition. Which is atypical -- most LV's close vents a few seconds before ignition to let pressures build up. But SpaceX isn't always typical...

But perhaps Valve A failed to respond to the command of Computer B and that caused Computer C to interrupt the ignition of Engines D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L?

ugordan · « **Reply #145 on:** 03/09/2010 08:05 pm »

Quote from: just-nick on 03/09/2010 08:00 pm

it looked like the venting was going on concurrent with the ignition.

According to my memory there was no venting prior to that and the sudden venting was the immediate sign to me ignition was off-nominal. Remember the fireball would take some short amount of time after thrust termination to rise up - before that it would have been sucked with the exhaust into the flame trench. It cannot be assumed the fireball appearance is the moment of ignition.

Lars_J · « **Reply #146 on:** 03/09/2010 08:07 pm »

Yeah the venting stopped 20-30 seconds before (attempted) ignition - but the vents opened just as the abort was made. That picture is 1-2 seconds after the abort, before the flames disappeared.

just-nick · « **Reply #147 on:** 03/09/2010 08:16 pm »

Quote from: Lars_J on 03/09/2010 08:07 pm

Yeah the venting stopped 20-30 seconds before (attempted) ignition - but the vents opened just as the abort was made. That picture is 1-2 seconds after the abort, before the flames disappeared.

Alright, I'll blame my confusion and distraction on some co-worker coming over to my desk and expecting me to have a conversation about work related stuff right at the moment of ignition. The nerve...

ugordan · « **Reply #148 on:** 03/09/2010 08:32 pm »

Heh, I just noticed something on the ELV Countdown Portal page: http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/

There's a small text saying "Is this any better?" that wasn't there before. Probably a result of our constant yacking about the camera pointing, quality and resolution.

Thanks again for that camera work, whoever it was

elnino99 · « **Reply #149 on:** 03/09/2010 08:46 pm »

Isn't it ironic that an internet pioneer can't post any sort of status update on this test, even after three hours? What happened to the Twitter revolution?

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #150 on:** 03/09/2010 08:50 pm »

Well at least flames are some sign of life.

They'll learn and get back to it.

It's amazing how hard it really is to launch things into space. That's why it's so expensive. A plot of the changes in per launch cost projections vs 'learning opportunities' like today's would be most interesting.

Avron · « **Reply #151 on:** 03/09/2010 08:51 pm »

Quote from: elnino99 on 03/09/2010 08:46 pm

Isn't it ironic that an internet pioneer can't post any sort of status update on this test, even after three hours? What happened to the Twitter revolution?

Old revolution!!... new one is out of this world..!!!

Love the small text on the countdown page.. many thanks to the nasa person behind the zoom in attempt.. great work, no notice and so much red tape..

Yes, it was better...

Serafeim · « **Reply #152 on:** 03/09/2010 08:53 pm »

where is the video from the testfire?
I hope someone upload it somewhere.on spacex site maybe?

Avron · « **Reply #153 on:** 03/09/2010 08:55 pm »

Quote from: Serafeim on 03/09/2010 08:53 pm

where is the video from the testfire?
I hope someone upload it somewhere.on spacex site maybe?

Look back a few posts

neilh · « **Reply #154 on:** 03/09/2010 08:57 pm »

Quote from: elnino99 on 03/09/2010 08:46 pm

Isn't it ironic that an internet pioneer can't post any sort of status update on this test, even after three hours? What happened to the Twitter revolution?

Have they even had a chance to make an inspection of the engine yet?

elnino99 · « **Reply #155 on:** 03/09/2010 08:58 pm »

Quote from: wannamoonbase on 03/09/2010 08:50 pm

It's amazing how hard it really is to launch things into space. That's why it's so expensive.
Quote

True, and perhaps why some in this business shouldn't pretend that they can accomplish amazing things at substantially lower costs!

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #156 on:** 03/09/2010 09:03 pm »

I will say one thing, she could be heard from the visitor's complex

astrobrian · « **Reply #157 on:** 03/09/2010 09:04 pm »

Quote from: elnino99 on 03/09/2010 08:46 pm

Isn't it ironic that an internet pioneer can't post any sort of status update on this test, even after three hours? What happened to the Twitter revolution?

My bet is twitter is the last thing on their minds at the moment, just a hunch though

elnino99 · « **Reply #158 on:** 03/09/2010 09:05 pm »

It is my sincere hope that SpaceX is successful, and it is certainly no surprise that the Falcon 9 team has encountered technical problems with a new nine-engine booster. However, a steady flow of reliable information about the status of this program - which is now being funded by taxpayers - is imperative to maintain good public relations. There is no excuse for the silence today from the SpaceX operation.

ugordan · « **Reply #159 on:** 03/09/2010 09:05 pm »

Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 03/09/2010 09:03 pm

I will say one thing, she could be heard from the visitor's complex

Was it really a bang or a short rumble?