Author Topic: SpaceX: Falcon 9 Hotfire Attempt 2 Updates (Read 138685 times)

corrodedNut · « **Reply #200 on:** 03/14/2010 04:09 am »

Its part of the feedline/cable trunk, but I can't say what its for.

If you look hard enough, you can see the cork squares, or rather, the grid pattern made by the gaps between them.

robertross · « **Reply #201 on:** 03/14/2010 04:23 am »

Quote from: Lars_J on 03/14/2010 04:06 am

Quote from: robertross on 03/14/2010 04:02 am
Quote from: mr. mark on 03/14/2010 03:50 am
Looks like the goon squad is out tonight, no offense, but that dark spot you are refering to is part of the rockets first stage. Please look at the other pictures before making comments.

Goon squad?? Gee, thanks...

So why is it so localized to the one area, and projects outwards?

Because it already projected outwards, if you bothered to look at the *OTHER* pictures on the same page:
http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/Images/RLV/SpaceX/2010-03-13-Pad_Test/IMG_0117.jpeg

It appears to be part of the prop/oxidizer fuel lines.

That's not what I meant. I meant that the ice is projecting outwards.
And my reference to the cork bulging is precisely that: it bulged, and blew out.

Now I may be in error, and would willingly admit to being so, but I zoomed into this area, and what happens in this 'explosive bursting out' happens BELOW and BEHIND this vent, or whatever it is.

I can't paste what I see, but anyone who has picture software to zoom into at 850% will see it.

EDIT TO ADD: Also note you don't see ANY evidence of this type of 'blowout' anywhere else on the vehicle's exterior. So to say it's just ice falling is incorrect, there is more to it.

mr. mark · « **Reply #202 on:** 03/14/2010 04:31 am »

I've looked at all the pictures from all angles and magnified especially the first picture. You have to realize that the winds were high and the ice would have been blown once it fell off the rocket. Spaceflightnow.com also reported that the smoke was also quickly blown away by high winds.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #203 on:** 03/14/2010 04:51 am »

Lots of photos e-mailed by SpaceX PAO Emily, credit: "Chris Thompson/SpaceX".

Video coming too, apparently.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #204 on:** 03/14/2010 04:51 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #205 on:** 03/14/2010 04:53 am »

HammerD · « **Reply #206 on:** 03/14/2010 05:11 am »

Chris, awesome pix! where did you get them? Do you have any video?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #207 on:** 03/14/2010 05:25 am »

Quote from: HammerD on 03/14/2010 05:11 am

Chris, awesome pix! where did you get them? Do you have any video?

Clue was in the post

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/14/2010 04:51 am

Lots of photos e-mailed by SpaceX PAO Emily, credit: "Chris Thompson/SpaceX".

Video coming too, apparently.

If I see the video arrive, I'll post a link, but keep an eye on the SpaceX site I'd say. Given the STS-131 issue, I'll be concentrating on that.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #208 on:** 03/14/2010 06:43 am »

Wow, very nice. Thanks, Chris, Emily, and Chris!

Jim · « **Reply #209 on:** 03/14/2010 10:08 am »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 03/14/2010 04:09 am

Its part of the feedline/cable trunk, but I can't say what its for.

If you look hard enough, you can see the cork squares, or rather, the grid pattern made by the gaps between them.

That would be a cable tray and not feedlines. That spot looks like a typical location for a rate gyro or it could be where part of the range safety system is located

ugordan · « **Reply #210 on:** 03/14/2010 10:17 am »

Quote from: robertross on 03/14/2010 04:23 am

That's not what I meant. I meant that the ice is projecting outwards.

There is no cork on the first stage LOX tank any more. There is no ice on the RP-1 tank. The black rectangle was always there and might be a 1st stage RP-1 helium pressurization vent valve. Apart from a sheet of ice chunks and water vapor, I don't see any bulging whatsoever.

Quote

And my reference to the cork bulging is precisely that: it bulged, and blew out.

Where?

Quote

EDIT TO ADD: Also note you don't see ANY evidence of this type of 'blowout' anywhere else on the vehicle's exterior. So to say it's just ice falling is incorrect, there is more to it.

Ever watched an Atlas launch? It's ice with water vapor mixed in. In fact, in the 2nd image Chris posted you can actually see the vapor "skin" giving the LOX tank a rough surface.

You're right, it's not just ice. It's ice + vapor.

ugordan · « **Reply #211 on:** 03/14/2010 10:22 am »

A question related to that water vapor blowback back to the vehicle from the flame bucket opening. Is that to be expected for the way the the engines are positioned over the opening and/or the depth of the bucket below? Atlas doesn't show this.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #212 on:** 03/14/2010 12:31 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 03/14/2010 10:08 am

Quote from: corrodedNut on 03/14/2010 04:09 am
Its part of the feedline/cable trunk, but I can't say what its for.

If you look hard enough, you can see the cork squares, or rather, the grid pattern made by the gaps between them.

That would be a cable tray and not feedlines. That spot looks like a typical location for a rate gyro or it could be where part of the range safety system is located

Yeah, that was kinda stupid. An actual feedline that runs outside the tank would be much, much larger, like the Atlas V, right? I guess I meant to say (in addition to data) "fill and drain line", maybe for helium?

Here's what that area looked like back in 2008, since it's near the common bulkhead, I thought that might have something to do with its function.

ugordan · « **Reply #213 on:** 03/14/2010 02:12 pm »

Quote from: jabe on 03/14/2010 02:09 pm

cool,
seems to have made it on youtube before anywhere else

http://flametrench.flatoday.net/2010/03/spacex-falcon-9-engine-test-firing_14.html

corrodedNut · « **Reply #214 on:** 03/14/2010 02:13 pm »

"RP-1 FARM" makes me think this is but one of several cameras, hopefully more footage coming soon!

ChefPat · « **Reply #215 on:** 03/14/2010 03:21 pm »

Quote from: stockman on 03/14/2010 02:58 am

Quote from: corrodedNut on 03/14/2010 02:43 am
Photos!

http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php

You can see a bunch of ice blowing off the vehicle in this one... hope cross posting is ok... Source is from the pointer kindly supplied by corrodedNut

After looking at all the photos on Hobby Space I'm no longer convinced all that debris is coming off the rocket.
It appears (to me) some of it has been kicked up from the pad & is just in the vicinity of the ice that's popped off that spot on the tank.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #216 on:** 03/14/2010 03:32 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/14/2010 04:51 am

Lots of photos e-mailed by SpaceX PAO Emily, credit: "Chris Thompson/SpaceX".
Video coming too, apparently.

I wonder. Will SpaceX allow media camera set up for the launch, or is the company going to control all information for launch the way it has for testing?

Stephen Clark called it a "real-time information vacuum" that was a "departure from typical rocket operations at Cape Canaveral".

- Ed Kyle

jabe · « **Reply #217 on:** 03/14/2010 03:37 pm »

Looking at one of the pics you see what i think are nozzles to hose down the pad soon after launch. Would it a concern to spray the pad while the F9 is still on the pad (ie soaking a hot engine with water a bad thing?) or is best to run spray on after it leaves?
jb

grakenverb · « **Reply #218 on:** 03/14/2010 03:38 pm »

Hopefully they will be as transparent as NASA has been when it comes to coverage. After all, the American taxpayer is going to be the customer, and we should be able to see where our money (borrowed from China) goes.

Cog_in_the_machine · « **Reply #219 on:** 03/14/2010 03:43 pm »

Quote from: jabe on 03/14/2010 03:37 pm

Would it a concern to spray the pad while the F9 is still on the pad (ie soaking a hot engine with water a bad thing?) or is best to run spray on after it leaves?
jb

Just from what I know, rapidly cooling something is a bad idea since the material could develop micro fractures or become brittle. It's best to let things cool off slower to avoid thermal damage, but I'm not sure if that applies to the Merlin engines.