Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates (Read 448888 times)

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #240 on:** 04/28/2011 06:41 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 05:25 pm

Heh. When you have Reisman saying docking to the Station, you pretty much know it is a lost cause.

Berthing is a special type of docking. One that is rarely performed by sea ships.

edit : spelling

ugordan · « **Reply #241 on:** 04/28/2011 08:17 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/25/2011 02:28 pm

I've still found no confirmation of a successful 90 second static test of the third Falcon 9 first stage at McGregor. SpaceX has been trying to complete this test for more than a month now while suffering a series of aborts.

Well, for what it's worth, there's something at SLC-40 right now. This image was taken less than an hour ago.

The image has the engines conveniently clipped off so there's no way of knowing if it's the complete stage w/ engines. At least the interstage and 1st stage tankage w/ engine section seem to be there.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #242 on:** 04/28/2011 08:26 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:17 pm

Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/25/2011 02:28 pm
I've still found no confirmation of a successful 90 second static test of the third Falcon 9 first stage at McGregor. SpaceX has been trying to complete this test for more than a month now while suffering a series of aborts.

Well, for what it's worth, there's something at SLC-40 right now. This image was taken less than an hour ago.

The image has the engines conveniently clipped off so there's no way of knowing if it's the complete stage w/ engines. At least the interstage and 1st stage tankage w/ engine section seem to be there.

source? twitter?

ugordan · « **Reply #243 on:** 04/28/2011 08:28 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 08:26 pm

twitter?

Yes. Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

hop · « **Reply #244 on:** 04/28/2011 08:41 pm »

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 04/28/2011 06:41 pm

Birthing is a special type of docking. One that is rarely performed by sea ships.

birthing is more of an undocking if you ask me. Berthing, OTOH ...

jabe · « **Reply #245 on:** 04/28/2011 08:51 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:28 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 08:26 pm
twitter?

Yes. Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

Here is a tweet about the tour too
with engines attached
jb

Cherokee43v6 · « **Reply #246 on:** 04/28/2011 08:53 pm »

Quote from: hop on 04/28/2011 08:41 pm

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 04/28/2011 06:41 pm
Birthing is a special type of docking. One that is rarely performed by sea ships.
birthing is more of an undocking if you ask me. Berthing, OTOH ...

Dang... you beat me to it!

But he is right... Birthing is a VERY SPECIAL type of docking :p

ugordan · « **Reply #247 on:** 04/28/2011 08:54 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:28 pm

Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

Robert Pearlman's images:

http://twitpic.com/4qnneo
Engines! http://twitpic.com/4qno2s

neilh · « **Reply #248 on:** 04/28/2011 08:58 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:54 pm

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:28 pm
Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

Robert Pearlman's images:

http://twitpic.com/4qnneo
Engines! http://twitpic.com/4qno2s

Woah, so I wonder when those engines were tested, then...

ugordan · « **Reply #249 on:** 04/28/2011 09:04 pm »

Quote from: neilh on 04/28/2011 08:58 pm

Woah, so I wonder when those engines were tested, then...

April 19th?

jabe · « **Reply #250 on:** 04/28/2011 09:16 pm »

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 04/28/2011 06:41 pm

Birthing is a special type of docking. One that is rarely performed by sea ships.

interesting..well i found it to be...powepoint on berthing/docking

jb

jabe · « **Reply #251 on:** 04/28/2011 09:19 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:54 pm

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:28 pm
Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

Robert Pearlman's images:

http://twitpic.com/4qnneo
Engines! http://twitpic.com/4qno2s

I tweeted Rob what he knew of the F9 and got this tweet...
I guess it will be in the hangar for a while...

neilh · « **Reply #252 on:** 04/28/2011 09:20 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 09:04 pm

Quote from: neilh on 04/28/2011 08:58 pm
Woah, so I wonder when those engines were tested, then...

April 19th?

I guess that'd certainly answer the question of whether or not those tests were successful...

Here's the analogous photo from COTS 1: http://www.spacex.com/assets/img/20101001_integrated.jpg

No idea if it's possible to tell if those are 1C or 1D engines, though.

ugordan · « **Reply #253 on:** 04/28/2011 09:24 pm »

Quote from: neilh on 04/28/2011 09:20 pm

No idea if it's possible to tell if those are 1C or 1D engines, though.

Was brought up repeatedly. Most definitely 1C. 1D is still in the testing phase and these engines were probably manufactured months ago - they go to Texas for individual acceptance tests first, return to Hawthorne for integration into engine section and only then is the integrated unit tested again in Texas.

Joris · « **Reply #254 on:** 04/28/2011 09:25 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:54 pm

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 08:28 pm
Apparently some folks got a surprise chance to see the Falcon 9 there today.

Robert Pearlman's images:

http://twitpic.com/4qnneo
Engines! http://twitpic.com/4qno2s

Why does the middle engine look so different compared to the engines above and below?

ugordan · « **Reply #255 on:** 04/28/2011 09:27 pm »

Some engines are rotated 90 or even 180 deg compared to others.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #256 on:** 04/28/2011 09:30 pm »

Now the question is how far along exactly the Merlin 1D is, if they are already being tested nine at a time at McGregor. We don't know the answer to this question, though we do know the Merlin 1D is at McGregor (according to Shotwell).

ugordan · « **Reply #257 on:** 04/28/2011 09:31 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 09:30 pm

if they are already being tested nine at a time at McGregor.

Where does this assumption come from?

neilh · « **Reply #258 on:** 04/28/2011 09:35 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 09:24 pm

Quote from: neilh on 04/28/2011 09:20 pm
No idea if it's possible to tell if those are 1C or 1D engines, though.

Was brought up repeatedly. Most definitely 1C. 1D is still in the testing phase and these engines were probably manufactured months ago - they go to Texas for individual acceptance tests first, return to Hawthorne for integration into engine section and only then is the integrated unit tested again in Texas.

Got it, thanks.

mr. mark · « **Reply #259 on:** 04/28/2011 09:38 pm »

Well, lets look on the bright side so what if it's Merlin 1d or merlin 1c. 1d will eventually happen. What's important is that we are looking at the first stage of a launch vehicle that may be the first to allow a private spacecraft, Dragon, to visit the ISS. The test fires apparently were successful and we are now months away. Exciting stuff! I remember the first COTS powerpoint by Spacex that was on their website. At the time it all seemed like a dream but now, here we are just months away.