Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates (Read 448889 times)

e of pi · « **Reply #260 on:** 04/28/2011 09:53 pm »

When was the most recent 9-engine firing reported at McGreggor? Is this that stage, or is there another 9-engine unit being fired someplace?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #261 on:** 04/28/2011 10:08 pm »

Quote from: e of pi on 04/28/2011 09:53 pm

When was the most recent 9-engine firing reported at McGreggor? Is this that stage, or is there another 9-engine unit being fired someplace?

I'm pretty sure the most recent tests weren't this stage. Not enough time to look over the data, take the stage down, safe it, prepare it for transport, send it over to Florida, take it off the truck, bring it inside. I guess it could be possible, but I sort of doubt it. Is 9 days enough?

edkyle99 · « **Reply #262 on:** 04/28/2011 10:10 pm »

Quote from: e of pi on 04/28/2011 09:53 pm

When was the most recent 9-engine firing reported at McGreggor? Is this that stage, or is there another 9-engine unit being fired someplace?

A Texas TV station reported that a firing was planned for the evening of April 19. No subsequent report of success or failure has appeared, although several comments from locals described noises and sounds.

- Ed Kyle

ugordan · « **Reply #263 on:** 04/28/2011 10:17 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 10:08 pm

Is 9 days enough?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24179.msg709450#msg709450

I don't see it as implausible. Their pace is still slow overall, but there's no reason not to assume they're starting to streamline at least some aspects of the flow.

What I'm surprised about is why the stage was shipped to the Cape so early. They must be operating under the assumption C2/C3 will not be combined so are pressing ahead with the C2 schedule. Prudent.

If NASA does allow combining the two as hinted recently, for the booster it's going to be a case of hurry up and wait.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #264 on:** 04/28/2011 10:28 pm »

Quote from: Joris on 04/28/2011 09:25 pm

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

You may be seeing the fill and drain lines, which are in the foreground of the photo, right by the "middle" engine. This is where (half) of the 1st stage umbilicals are connected, the vehicle disconnects point "down" or aft.

RocketEconomist327 · « **Reply #265 on:** 04/28/2011 10:57 pm »

Quote from: Adaptation on 04/28/2011 04:53 pm

Quote from: baldusi on 04/28/2011 01:48 pm
What are the chances that they are testing Merlin 1D?

Or Raptor.

What in the green hell?

baldusi · « **Reply #266 on:** 04/28/2011 11:13 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 10:17 pm

If NASA does allow combining the two as hinted recently, for the booster it's going to be a case of hurry up and wait.

Or actually launch some commercial satellite in the mean time? MDA perhaps? It couldn't bother their bottom line, nor their track record.

mr. mark · « **Reply #267 on:** 04/29/2011 12:32 am »

Hey, everyone knows the schedule and we know there will be no surprises. Its either COTS 2 or COTS 2 and 3 combined. Chris said that, according to what he has seen, there are clear indications from reviews that they are looking to combine this mission. His word is good enough for me.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #268 on:** 04/29/2011 01:14 am »

Disarming? Top photo is new, bottom one is from a previous launch.

Antares · « **Reply #269 on:** 04/29/2011 02:55 am »

Was there a comment somewhere about how open SpaceX is with info? There's a lot of guessing here for such an open company. I'm not making a point about SpaceX. I'm making a point about irrational expectations of them.

Honest question: would people rather have excessive excitement and then disillusionment or tempered but accurate excitement?

QuantumG · « **Reply #270 on:** 04/29/2011 02:56 am »

SpaceX has competitors who would also like to have access to that juicy information.

go4mars · « **Reply #271 on:** 04/29/2011 02:59 am »

Quote from: Antares on 04/29/2011 02:55 am

Honest question: would people rather have excessive excitement and then disillusionment or tempered but accurate excitement?

Tempered but accurate. Which is not incongruent with speculation.

For example, a guy like me wonders, "Is that a new strongback with arms not attached yet, or the old one with the other removed?" Is there a new design plan that does not require those arms? If not, have they got a plan to keep them attached to the strongback during the next launch? What changes? Are falling strongback arms even a concern at this stage?"

I don't want to waste Elon's money by calling the receptionist and asking about all of my speculations to satiate my curiosities and speculations (large or small). This forum is a wonderful venue where hard headed engineers patiently shoot ideas down, and bring understanding to the unwashed (but excited) masses. I truly appreciate it everytime a knowledgable person takes the time to blast a few cold hard facts at me that I've overlooked or was unaware of.

Lurker Steve · « **Reply #272 on:** 04/29/2011 03:27 am »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 10:17 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 10:08 pm
Is 9 days enough?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24179.msg709450#msg709450

I don't see it as implausible. Their pace is still slow overall, but there's no reason not to assume they're starting to streamline at least some aspects of the flow.

What I'm surprised about is why the stage was shipped to the Cape so early. They must be operating under the assumption C2/C3 will not be combined so are pressing ahead with the C2 schedule. Prudent.

If NASA does allow combining the two as hinted recently, for the booster it's going to be a case of hurry up and wait.

OK, conspircy theory time.

Obama is headed down to the Cape this weekend. Elon had to make sure that SpaceX actually looked like they were busy working on the "Shuttle-replacement". This is another rocket body that isn't ready to fly, but is part of the Elon Musk / SpaceX show and tell.

Downix · « **Reply #273 on:** 04/29/2011 03:35 am »

Quote from: Lurker Steve on 04/29/2011 03:27 am

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 10:17 pm
Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/28/2011 10:08 pm
Is 9 days enough?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24179.msg709450#msg709450

I don't see it as implausible. Their pace is still slow overall, but there's no reason not to assume they're starting to streamline at least some aspects of the flow.

What I'm surprised about is why the stage was shipped to the Cape so early. They must be operating under the assumption C2/C3 will not be combined so are pressing ahead with the C2 schedule. Prudent.

If NASA does allow combining the two as hinted recently, for the booster it's going to be a case of hurry up and wait.

OK, conspircy theory time.

Obama is headed down to the Cape this weekend. Elon had to make sure that SpaceX actually looked like they were busy working on the "Shuttle-replacement". This is another rocket body that isn't ready to fly, but is part of the Elon Musk / SpaceX show and tell.

ULA's made sure an Atlas V is waiting there as well, with it's payload encapsulated yesterday so that it will look entirely set up and ready for launch.

Proponent · « **Reply #274 on:** 04/29/2011 04:00 am »

This is Obama's second trip to the Cape, right?

When's the last time a president went to the Cape for a launch? Which other recent presidents have visited?

Lars_J · « **Reply #275 on:** 04/29/2011 04:07 am »

I seem to recall that Clinton saw a launch from the top of the VAB. Or perhaps that was after he left office.

mr. mark · « **Reply #276 on:** 04/29/2011 05:06 am »

"ULA's made sure an Atlas V is waiting there as well, with it's payload encapsulated yesterday so that it will look entirely set up and ready for launch.

LOL!

Yes, Im sure that Spacex went to all the trouble of getting a first stage and interstage down to the cape for a 5 minute photo op. Spacex already had a photo op with the President. They are not going to waist time and even more money putting a fake rocket at the cape and only a partial rocket at that. God knows, they already did that once already. They don't need to do that again and burn more money to do it. Leave that to Richard Branson who loves to fly SS2 around showing everyone how great Virgin Galactic is even though they have not even had a integrated powered ground test let alone a powered flight test. I'm still waiting on that one.

cosmicvoid · « **Reply #277 on:** 04/29/2011 05:07 am »

Regarding the speculation about all the engine testing at McGregor, and subsequent readiness for integration at the Cape... I wouldn't be surprised if SpaceX had at least one extra set of engines at the Cape, in case the pre-launch static fire showed that one or more engines had a problem. I suppose they would swap out the whole set-of-nine with the spare set, and deal with the individual engines later.

Downix · « **Reply #278 on:** 04/29/2011 05:12 am »

Quote from: mr. mark on 04/29/2011 05:06 am

"ULA's made sure an Atlas V is waiting there as well, with it's payload encapsulated yesterday so that it will look entirely set up and ready for launch.

LOL!

Yes, Im sure that Spacex went to all the trouble of getting a first stage and interstage down to the cape for a 5 minute photo op. Spacex already had a photo op with the President. They are not going to waist time and even more money putting a fake rocket at the cape and only a partial rocket at that. God knows, they already did that once already. They don't need to do that again and burn more money to do it. Leave that to Richard Branson who loves to fly SS2 around showing everyone how great Virgin Galactic is even though they have not even had a integrated powered ground test let alone a powered flight test. I'm still waiting on that one.

I never said it was for a photo op with the President. This is the last officially scheduled Shuttle launch until congress allocates the funds for STS-135. If I was a rocket operator with a launch pad within line of sight of the shuttle, I would be positioning myself into the viewfield of the world as well.

mr. mark · « **Reply #279 on:** 04/29/2011 05:22 am »

Just to remind everyone this twitter post was received today

@jabe8 That is indeed the vehicle for COTS 2/3 (SpaceX is still awaiting word from NASA if they can combine flights and go straight to ISS).