The flight versions are pneumatic legs, are they not?What do you suppose is supporting the capsule when it is on display?Could these be fixed extension mock-ups?
Quote from: sghill on 06/11/2014 07:58 pmI noticed from the images that the landing legs differ in length from the front to the back. Look at images 13 and 35 here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h0aq4cpsvno53hi/AACq63OMC3mmCY9YMctRUhGFaThe rear leg in image 13 is up on blocks compared to the front leg in image 35 (you can still see the rear leg in the background). In normal operations, the capsule would rest at an angle towards the rear.I'm thinking this makes sense because we already know the capsule will descend at a rearwards angle to improve water landing smoothness. Having shorter rear legs means that all 4 legs will touch down with the same approximate force at the same time instead of the rear legs banging down harder than the front legs.Should we rightly call this a spacecraft and not a capsule (said with a snide German accent) since it is self-powered?The flight versions are pneumatic legs, are they not?What do you suppose is supporting the capsule when it is on display?Could these be fixed extension mock-ups?
I noticed from the images that the landing legs differ in length from the front to the back. Look at images 13 and 35 here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h0aq4cpsvno53hi/AACq63OMC3mmCY9YMctRUhGFaThe rear leg in image 13 is up on blocks compared to the front leg in image 35 (you can still see the rear leg in the background). In normal operations, the capsule would rest at an angle towards the rear.I'm thinking this makes sense because we already know the capsule will descend at a rearwards angle to improve water landing smoothness. Having shorter rear legs means that all 4 legs will touch down with the same approximate force at the same time instead of the rear legs banging down harder than the front legs.Should we rightly call this a spacecraft and not a capsule (said with a snide German accent) since it is self-powered?
Not sure if this was posted. Funny at end with Elon saying a few choice words.http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/11/news/companies/musk-spacex-washington/index.html
Two views of the inside of the hatch. I notice that there doesn't appear to be a latch on the inside surface. Does this mean that the hatch can only be opened from the outside?
Quote from: J-V on 06/12/2014 10:01 amI wonder how they manage to do it completely watertight. I could imagine very small amounts of water between the SPAM and the hull to cause problems when the spacecraft is in vacuum and having high temperature variations. Probably not a safety problem, but could cause some extra maintenance.That's because it will land on ... land, not water ;D
I wonder how they manage to do it completely watertight. I could imagine very small amounts of water between the SPAM and the hull to cause problems when the spacecraft is in vacuum and having high temperature variations. Probably not a safety problem, but could cause some extra maintenance.
Quote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 05:36 amQuote from: Helodriver on 06/12/2014 04:42 amQuote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 02:15 amQuote from: Shaledc on 06/12/2014 02:13 amQuote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...... and? was it "soft" like thick paint, or "brittle" like a ceramic? Did it feel cold to the touch? Metallic? Glassy?I had ample hands on time in Hawthorne. The surface was very firm to the touch and felt quite solid. No give at all, not flimsy or hollow, not cold like metal. When tapped, it felt and sounded like thick fiberglass, like on the bottom of a substantial boat. The skin is made of close fitting panels and the seams between the panels and holes for fasteners are filled with a fairly rigid putty that has slightly more give than the panels themselves. This same putty also fills in space between the panels and the edges of the small Draco thrusters, so I suspect it is highly thermal resistant.Interesting. I wonder if they can re-apply more SPAM when some areas become too thin. Prime the outer layer, and paint it back to its original thickness.Not likely just a spray on revive. The tech said the SPAM was manufactured (either cast or laid up like fiberglass, I forget) and then machined to final spec. I didn't think to ask how it was attached to the shell. I did ask about reusability and there was no mention about rejuvenating any TPS.
Quote from: Helodriver on 06/12/2014 04:42 amQuote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 02:15 amQuote from: Shaledc on 06/12/2014 02:13 amQuote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...... and? was it "soft" like thick paint, or "brittle" like a ceramic? Did it feel cold to the touch? Metallic? Glassy?I had ample hands on time in Hawthorne. The surface was very firm to the touch and felt quite solid. No give at all, not flimsy or hollow, not cold like metal. When tapped, it felt and sounded like thick fiberglass, like on the bottom of a substantial boat. The skin is made of close fitting panels and the seams between the panels and holes for fasteners are filled with a fairly rigid putty that has slightly more give than the panels themselves. This same putty also fills in space between the panels and the edges of the small Draco thrusters, so I suspect it is highly thermal resistant.Interesting. I wonder if they can re-apply more SPAM when some areas become too thin. Prime the outer layer, and paint it back to its original thickness.
Quote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 02:15 amQuote from: Shaledc on 06/12/2014 02:13 amQuote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...... and? was it "soft" like thick paint, or "brittle" like a ceramic? Did it feel cold to the touch? Metallic? Glassy?I had ample hands on time in Hawthorne. The surface was very firm to the touch and felt quite solid. No give at all, not flimsy or hollow, not cold like metal. When tapped, it felt and sounded like thick fiberglass, like on the bottom of a substantial boat. The skin is made of close fitting panels and the seams between the panels and holes for fasteners are filled with a fairly rigid putty that has slightly more give than the panels themselves. This same putty also fills in space between the panels and the edges of the small Draco thrusters, so I suspect it is highly thermal resistant.
Quote from: Shaledc on 06/12/2014 02:13 amQuote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...... and? was it "soft" like thick paint, or "brittle" like a ceramic? Did it feel cold to the touch? Metallic? Glassy?
Quote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...
2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.
Quote from: Alpha Control on 06/13/2014 03:16 amTwo views of the inside of the hatch. I notice that there doesn't appear to be a latch on the inside surface. Does this mean that the hatch can only be opened from the outside?It means that this is not the final hatch design.
Quote from: Shredder56 on 06/12/2014 09:51 amQuote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 05:36 amQuote from: Helodriver on 06/12/2014 04:42 amQuote from: meekGee on 06/12/2014 02:15 amQuote from: Shaledc on 06/12/2014 02:13 amQuote from: Sesquipedalian on 06/11/2014 10:11 pm2) The reason the Dragon looks like a mockup is because the whole thing is covered in SPAM -- SPacex Ablator Material. (Except for the heat shield which, of course, uses PICA-X.) They coat the outer panels with the stuff, shape it, and form it, and then stick the panels on the spacecraft. This protects the outer skin of the spacecraft from re-entry heating. The SPAM is what makes it look fake; it has the texture and glossiness of a flimsy mockup molded out of styrofoam or plastic, but it is in fact quite solid.I also touched the skin when the guards were not looking...... and? was it "soft" like thick paint, or "brittle" like a ceramic? Did it feel cold to the touch? Metallic? Glassy?I had ample hands on time in Hawthorne. The surface was very firm to the touch and felt quite solid. No give at all, not flimsy or hollow, not cold like metal. When tapped, it felt and sounded like thick fiberglass, like on the bottom of a substantial boat. The skin is made of close fitting panels and the seams between the panels and holes for fasteners are filled with a fairly rigid putty that has slightly more give than the panels themselves. This same putty also fills in space between the panels and the edges of the small Draco thrusters, so I suspect it is highly thermal resistant.Interesting. I wonder if they can re-apply more SPAM when some areas become too thin. Prime the outer layer, and paint it back to its original thickness.Not likely just a spray on revive. The tech said the SPAM was manufactured (either cast or laid up like fiberglass, I forget) and then machined to final spec. I didn't think to ask how it was attached to the shell. I did ask about reusability and there was no mention about rejuvenating any TPS.Since the SPAM coat is smooth, it is not pre-made as panels. It is applied somehow.They can either control the thickness with selective application, or over-apply and then put the entire capsule in a fast 5 axis mill that only kisses the outer surface to bring it to dimension.Either way doesn't rule out re-application of the SPAM coat if it gets ablated. It's mostly a function of whether a used surface can be primed (mechanically or chemically) to accept new coats.
