Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - DISCUSSION THREAD (Read 611285 times)

Avron · « **Reply #820 on:** 12/02/2013 12:22 am »

Quote from: Jim on 12/01/2013 11:57 pm

The TEA-TEB is squirted into it

Thanks, now that would explain the clean-out.

Avron · « **Reply #821 on:** 12/02/2013 12:30 am »

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk 19m
The gas generator is a small rocket engine that powers the turbopump, which produces 7000 horsepower & weighs 160 lbs

corrodedNut · « **Reply #822 on:** 12/02/2013 12:43 am »

Quote from: Avron on 12/01/2013 10:45 pm

Jim..

How are turbo-pumps ignited? Trying to understand the rational for cleaning of the pumps.

Also, the GGs run "fuel rich". AIUI this makes lower temperature exhaust, which is easier on the turbine but results in more coking.

Avron · « **Reply #823 on:** 12/02/2013 01:02 am »

Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Lars_J · « **Reply #824 on:** 12/02/2013 01:39 am »

Quote from: Avron on 12/02/2013 01:02 am

Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Why not?

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #825 on:** 12/02/2013 01:58 am »

Quote from: Avron on 12/02/2013 01:02 am

Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Musk is training them to launch even without him there, because, after all, soon Musk will be on Mars and then they'll have to launch without him even being on the same planet.

Avron · « **Reply #826 on:** 12/02/2013 02:02 am »

Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 12/02/2013 01:58 am

Quote from: Avron on 12/02/2013 01:02 am
Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Musk is training them to launch even without him there, because, after all, soon Musk will be on Mars and then they'll have to launch without him even being on the same planet.

Will need to R & R the gas generator first.

MP99 · « **Reply #827 on:** 12/02/2013 07:50 am »

Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 12/02/2013 01:58 am

Quote from: Avron on 12/02/2013 01:02 am
Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Musk is training them to launch even without him there, because, after all, soon Musk will be on Mars and then they'll have to launch without him even being on the same planet.

Thanks - that completely made my day.

Cheers, Martin

guckyfan · « **Reply #828 on:** 12/02/2013 08:15 am »

Elon Musk Twitter

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/407313331247398912

Quote

Engines are cycling cleanly w ground pneumatics. Replaced gas generator on engine 9 (center) as a precautionary measure.

Engines are cycling cleanly w ground pneumatics. Does that mean the turbopumps spin up as expected when charged with Helium? Can they do numerous spin up cycles for testing?

Garrett · « **Reply #829 on:** 12/02/2013 08:59 am »

Quote from: Avron on 12/02/2013 01:02 am

Would spacex launch if Musk was not in Florida..?

Of course. Musk has usually been at the LC in Hawthorne for CRS launches (that's where Dragon is monitored and controlled from after all).

Another question might be: will Elon stay in Florida until the launch is complete? My guess is yes, given what's at stake with this launch.

I'll also take a guess that he'll be in Florida for the Thaicom launch, and be in Hawthorne for the CRS-3 mission.

Pete · « **Reply #830 on:** 12/02/2013 10:35 am »

Once again, sorry for having an opinion.
I'll just lurk back to my cave.

Garrett · « **Reply #831 on:** 12/02/2013 11:58 am »

Quote from: Pete on 12/02/2013 10:35 am

I'm just immensely impressed that they can, in a span of only three days, rip out the gas generators of all nine engines, Clean&inspect then, re-mount them back on to their engines and wrap up the whole checkout of the rocket.

Was it confirmed that all nine engines were inspected? I thought it was just the two or three that had thrust ramp-up issues.
Also, were they taken out, or borescoped and cleaned in-situ?

Jim · « **Reply #832 on:** 12/02/2013 12:17 pm »

Quote from: Pete on 12/02/2013 10:35 am

I'm just immensely impressed that they can, in a span of only three days, rip out the gas generators of all nine engines, Clean&inspect then, re-mount them back on to their engines and wrap up the whole checkout of the rocket.
.
Especially considering that this would be only one of a great many actions that they need to be prepared to do at virtually zero notice.
.
Plus they did it over thanksgiving weekend.
.
Impressive.

Only one was

yg1968 · « **Reply #833 on:** 12/02/2013 01:19 pm »

When does the webcast start? Is it an hour before launch?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #834 on:** 12/02/2013 01:29 pm »

Quote from: yg1968 on 12/02/2013 01:19 pm

When does the webcast start? Is it an hour before launch?

About 25 mins before. A bit like how Arianespace come back from a scrub....they rather come back for a shorter webcast, as opposed to a copy and paste style re-run of the first webcast.

IRobot · « **Reply #835 on:** 12/02/2013 03:51 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 12/02/2013 12:17 pm

Quote from: Pete on 12/02/2013 10:35 am
I'm just immensely impressed that they can, in a span of only three days, rip out the gas generators of all nine engines, Clean&inspect then, re-mount them back on to their engines and wrap up the whole checkout of the rocket.
.
Especially considering that this would be only one of a great many actions that they need to be prepared to do at virtually zero notice.
.
Plus they did it over thanksgiving weekend.
.
Impressive.

Only one was

If they redesigned Falcon 9 for reusability, that means maintenance must be simple and lots of small changes can be made on the pad.

HammerD · « **Reply #836 on:** 12/02/2013 04:21 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/02/2013 03:06 pm

And just to tie a bow on Monday:

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
All known rocket anomalies resolved. Will spend another day rechecking to be sure. Launch attempt tmrw eve w Wed as backup.

What timezone is this website in? The reply said like 3 pm today but it's only 12:12 PM EST currently on Monday.

mikegro · « **Reply #837 on:** 12/02/2013 04:36 pm »

Quote from: HammerD on 12/02/2013 04:21 pm

What timezone is this website in? The reply said like 3 pm today but it's only 12:12 PM EST currently on Monday.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32793.msg1115854#msg1115854

HammerD · « **Reply #838 on:** 12/02/2013 04:39 pm »

Quote from: mikegro on 12/02/2013 04:36 pm

Quote from: HammerD on 12/02/2013 04:21 pm

What timezone is this website in? The reply said like 3 pm today but it's only 12:12 PM EST currently on Monday.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32793.msg1115854#msg1115854

Thanks it was set to "0" in my profile - I've changed it to -4.

yg1968 · « **Reply #839 on:** 12/02/2013 04:48 pm »

Video of the first attempt:

Video of the second attempt: