Author Topic: SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion Thread 3 (Read 286212 times)

meekGee · « **Reply #140 on:** 01/26/2015 04:56 pm »

Can anyone identify the taller white cylinder near the pad?

llanitedave · « **Reply #141 on:** 01/26/2015 05:14 pm »

Quote from: Jdeshetler on 01/26/2015 03:01 pm

Quote from: StuffOfInterest on 01/26/2015 10:35 am
Also, I wonder what happened to all the spoil from the flame trench. It costs money to have dirt halled away.

The dirt was originally dumped 1000' to the west according to the Google Earth but like you said according to JimNtexas's latest photo all spoil was actually hauled off site afterward, that I didn't expected in a Texas way...

Maybe they gave it to the SpaceX farmer.

AncientU · « **Reply #142 on:** 01/26/2015 05:23 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/26/2015 03:55 pm

Oooh, lots of nice photos there!

First thing I always look for is a core on the test stand. No core.

When I grow up, I want to work there.

Don't, it's over-rated.
Growing up that is...

Jdeshetler · « **Reply #143 on:** 01/26/2015 05:32 pm »

Quote from: Elvis in Space on 01/26/2015 04:32 pm

Quote from: Jdeshetler on 01/26/2015 03:01 pm
Quote from: StuffOfInterest on 01/26/2015 10:35 am
Also, I wonder what happened to all the spoil from the flame trench. It costs money to have dirt halled away.

The dirt was originally dumped 1000' to the west according to the Google Earth but like you said according to JimNtexas's latest photo all spoil was actually hauled off site afterward, that I didn't expected in a Texas way...

Since this was a former Navy testing facility it could be that anything they dig up has to be treated as "hazardous waste". This means it has to be taken to a landfill designated for such material. You can't leave it out to leach into the soil or water table. Where I work that is always a source of confusion since it came out of the ground anyway.

Very true however this pile of dirt wasn't covered with tarps, a tell-tale sign of hazardous waste. Maybe they have a long term master plan to expand to the west and this pile of dirt is in the way?

CLCalver · « **Reply #144 on:** 01/26/2015 07:12 pm »

Quote from: AncientU on 01/26/2015 05:23 pm

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/26/2015 03:55 pm
Oooh, lots of nice photos there!

First thing I always look for is a core on the test stand. No core.

When I grow up, I want to work there.

Don't, it's over-rated.
Growing up that is...

So is WORK!

CLC

sghill · « **Reply #145 on:** 01/26/2015 08:43 pm »

Quote from: fawkes on 01/26/2015 03:54 pm

Is it just me or does the object in the down-right corner of the F9R-Pad looks like a Dragon-Trunk (see the cross-structure on top)?

I would assume the this is for the Dragonfly-Test. So we can assume at least one will take place in the near future.
Maybe they want to start from there and hover to the concrete-pad, quite like the F9R-Test.

Or is it something else and I'm missing something?

I'd buy that assumption. The large blue truss on the left sure looks like the top 50 feet of the new "extended" erector design, so perhaps they are going to do some Dragon-Fly testing, pad abort, and pad integration work with this equipment.

P.S. Thank you JimNtexas for these fly-by photos!
P.P.S. Thank you SpaceX for painting everything bright Blue in McGregor so it stands out against the dirt!

JimNtexas · « **Reply #146 on:** 01/26/2015 09:32 pm »

Let me revise and extend my remarks about seeing three big cranes. I based that statement not on this set of images, rather one I took with my cell phone a few days earlier.

Do see that object to left of the blue gantry (or whatever that is) and right of the water tower? I thought that was a crane.

Looking at yesterday's picture I release that this is probably the concret pump which is visible in DSC_0509.jpg.

meekGee · « **Reply #147 on:** 01/27/2015 02:09 am »

I'm asking again - anyone knows what this is?

It's in the top left of the first SpaceX image, it looks like it's right outside the frame of the close up images of the pad - assuming the smaller white cylinder is the one being discussed upthread.

The longer white cylinder, however - I don't recognize. It is not in other pictures of the pad.

(I am not even 100% sure we're looking at the pad, but the access road looks familiar, and the short cylinder matches)

EDIT: No matter. It is the pad area, but this is the fueling area just short of the pad, see lower attached image.

JimNtexas · « **Reply #148 on:** 01/27/2015 02:20 am »

Do you mean this tank:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NWW2tf69ZBYzFVUjlFOGlxVk0/view?usp=sharing

meekGee · « **Reply #149 on:** 01/27/2015 02:25 am »

Quote from: JimNtexas on 01/27/2015 02:20 am

Do you mean this tank:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NWW2tf69ZBYzFVUjlFOGlxVk0/view?usp=sharing

Yes, just figured it out with Goog Maps. There's a "pre pad" (fueling area) just shy of the pad, and that's what visible at the edge of your image #3

Ohsin · « **Reply #150 on:** 01/27/2015 03:16 am »

Quote from: sghill on 01/26/2015 08:43 pm

Quote from: fawkes on 01/26/2015 03:54 pm
Is it just me or does the object in the down-right corner of the F9R-Pad looks like a Dragon-Trunk (see the cross-structure on top)?

I would assume the this is for the Dragonfly-Test. So we can assume at least one will take place in the near future.
Maybe they want to start from there and hover to the concrete-pad, quite like the F9R-Test.

Or is it something else and I'm missing something?

I'd buy that assumption. The large blue truss on the left sure looks like the top 50 feet of the new "extended" erector design, so perhaps they are going to do some Dragon-Fly testing, pad abort, and pad integration work with this equipment.

P.S. Thank you JimNtexas for these fly-by photos!
P.P.S. Thank you SpaceX for painting everything bright Blue in McGregor so it stands out against the dirt!

Shhh don't give them ideas! The similarity in dia also struck me. I need to lookup on speculation about strongback modifications.

guckyfan · « **Reply #151 on:** 01/27/2015 06:49 am »

Quote from: Ohsin on 01/27/2015 03:16 am

Shhh don't give them ideas! The similarity in dia also struck me.

It is not just the diameter. There is that hexagonal star in it, like in the Dragon Trunk.

I have added the relevant part of the picture, showing what seems to be a trunk.

docmordrid · « **Reply #152 on:** 01/27/2015 02:07 pm »

Certainly looks like a trunk, right down to the spider on top. Looks like a DragonFly hop "launch" fixture.

sghill · « **Reply #153 on:** 01/27/2015 02:19 pm »

Quote from: meekGee on 01/27/2015 02:09 am

I'm asking again - anyone knows what this is?

The DC-X...

Elmar Moelzer · « **Reply #154 on:** 01/27/2015 02:38 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 01/27/2015 02:07 pm

Certainly looks like a trunk, right down to the spider on top. Looks like a DragonFly hop "launch" fixture.

But a launch abort would be done with the trunk still attached, no?

docmordrid · « **Reply #155 on:** 01/27/2015 02:44 pm »

DragonFly hops are going to need a launch fixture, so why not trunk-like? ISTM it could also test the D2/trunk abort separation event.

guckyfan · « **Reply #156 on:** 01/27/2015 02:54 pm »

Quote from: Elmar Moelzer on 01/27/2015 02:38 pm

Quote from: docmordrid on 01/27/2015 02:07 pm
Certainly looks like a trunk, right down to the spider on top. Looks like a DragonFly hop "launch" fixture.
But a launch abort would be done with the trunk still attached, no?

It is not for launch abort. It is - if speculation is correct - for DragonFly tests, to qualify for powered land landing.

abaddon · « **Reply #157 on:** 01/27/2015 03:01 pm »

Quote from: guckyfan on 01/27/2015 02:54 pm

Quote from: Elmar Moelzer on 01/27/2015 02:38 pm
Quote from: docmordrid on 01/27/2015 02:07 pm
Certainly looks like a trunk, right down to the spider on top. Looks like a DragonFly hop "launch" fixture.
But a launch abort would be done with the trunk still attached, no?

It is not for launch abort. It is - if speculation is correct - for DragonFly tests, to qualify for powered land landing.

Huh? Powered land landings will be without the trunk, which is disposed of on orbit prior to reentry of the capsule. DragonFly tests will not include any trunk.

guckyfan · « **Reply #158 on:** 01/27/2015 03:16 pm »

Quote from: abaddon on 01/27/2015 03:01 pm

Quote from: guckyfan on 01/27/2015 02:54 pm

It is not for launch abort. It is - if speculation is correct - for DragonFly tests, to qualify for powered land landing.

Huh? Powered land landings will be without the trunk, which is disposed of on orbit prior to reentry of the capsule. DragonFly tests will not include any trunk.

That's what I said. The trunklike structure would be to launch Dragon from. Not to fly with Dragon.

abaddon · « **Reply #159 on:** 01/27/2015 03:25 pm »

Quote from: guckyfan on 01/27/2015 03:16 pm

That's what I said. The trunklike structure would be to launch Dragon from. Not to fly with Dragon.

Ah, I see.

I don't see any reason why a trunk-like structure would be desirable to launch DragonFly from. Dragon will never "launch from" a trunk, and on descent it doesn't matter what it launched from. Why not a clean pad? DragonFly will need legs to land on and unlike F9R there should be no load issues requiring a test stand for takeoff. It also seems likely that the trunk-like structure would be damaged by the thrust of the SuperDracos; the trunk in a similar scenario stays attached rather than the Dragon departing from the trunk as it would be doing in DragonFly testing.

I think it is more likely the trunk-like structure is for pad abort or even more likely the in-flight abort article. But then again, I have no idea why it'd be sitting out in the open at McGregor, so who knows...