SpaceX Falcon 9 / Dragon 2 : SpX-DM1 : March 2, 2019 : DISCUSSION

[flyright]

Is there any further information on why there was an aluminum grid fin on this booster?  Was the opposite grid fin also aluminum?  I must admit, I didn't notice this on any earlier coverage.

There were no aluminum grid fins on this one

So what is the undersized grid fin made of? Is it a new design titanium fin?
(or maybe it's an optical illusion that the fin in the foreground looks undersized?)

[stcks]

So what is the undersized grid fin made of? Is it a new design titanium fin?

Huh? There was no undersized fin

[flyright]

So what is the undersized grid fin made of? Is it a new design titanium fin?

Huh? There was no undersized fin

It was called out in the video that there was one undersized grid fin. I'm thinking now it was just the angle the picture was taken from that made the grid fin in the foreground look smaller than the the fins on the side.

[Vettedrmr]

Is there any further information on why there was an aluminum grid fin on this booster?  Was the opposite grid fin also aluminum?  I must admit, I didn't notice this on any earlier coverage.

There were no aluminum grid fins on this one

So what is the undersized grid fin made of? Is it a new design titanium fin?
(or maybe it's an optical illusion that the fin in the foreground looks undersized?)

It certainly looked smaller in the photo.  It took a while, but I finally found a similar photo where the titanium grid fins were emphasized (I don't know who to attribute it to so not duplicating it here), and the same illusion was in that image as well.  So I'm marking it down as an illusion.

Have a good one,
Mike

[Rocket Science]

Do we have any numbers as to the landing weight of the Dragon? Was there ballast added to simulate full crew at max weight plus any reserve for return packages from ISS? Was this close to the low-end with only Ripley on board and other test instruments? Was there much shear descending though various flight levels? Splashdown fps?

[leetdan]

It's an optical illusion due to filming from beneath.  Look at the shadows, you can tell the leading edges are scalloped just like the side fins.

Also, the Al fins had reinforcing ribs along their entire length.  Ti is strong enough on its own to not need these.



Sourced from https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/22096/how-are-the-spacex-falcon-9-mod-3-and-mod-4-grid-fins-different

[FlokiViking]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

[Rocket Science]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

Different plasma flow field around Crew Dragon due to a different mold-line...

[OnWithTheShow]

Are those plugs in the dracos or are they metering to measure for any hydrazine seepage.

[whitelancer64]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

Please attach the picture to your post

[Alexphysics]

Do we have any numbers as to the landing weight of the Dragon? Was there ballast added to simulate full crew at max weight plus any reserve for return packages from ISS? Was this close to the low-end with only Ripley on board and other test instruments? Was there much shear descending though various flight levels? Splashdown fps?

They said on the post-FRR briefing that this capsule is not that different from later missions in terms of mass.

[flyright]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

Please attach the picture to your post

Not sure what cause the bubbling pattern, but the coating is ablative and meant to partially burn off.
For Cargo Dragons the coating is fresh each time the vehicle is refurbished. For the abort test, I don't know if they would bother with it.

I think this is the picture being referenced:

[jeffreycornish]

The white material used to insulate/protect the capsule is called SPAM

SpaceX Proprietary Ablative Material.  It's mounted in sections so is likely just going to be replaced if it is damaged enough.

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

[Comga]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

Is it not established that Crew Dragon capsules will be reflown on cargo missions?

[Lars-J]

The white material used to insulate/protect the capsule is called SPAM

SpaceX Proprietary Ablative Material.  It's mounted in sections so is likely just going to be replaced if it is damaged enough.

Yes, and I believe that all reused Cargo Dragons have had *all* their sidewall SPAM removed and a new layer applied. The same should happen for Crew Dragon reuse.

[woods170]

The white material used to insulate/protect the capsule is called SPAM

SpaceX Proprietary Ablative Material.  It's mounted in sections so is likely just going to be replaced if it is damaged enough.

Yes, and I believe that all reused Cargo Dragons have had *all* their sidewall SPAM removed and a new layer applied. The same should happen for Crew Dragon reuse.

Correct. Re-flown cargo Dragons have a fresh coat of SPAM. When flown Crew Dragons are repurposed as cargo Dragon v2 the very same thing will be done: fresh coat of SPAM will be applied.

[guckyfan]

Correct. Re-flown cargo Dragons have a fresh coat of SPAM. When flown Crew Dragons are repurposed as cargo Dragon v2 the very same thing will be done: fresh coat of SPAM will be applied.

I had thought they replace the complete outer panels.

[woods170]

Ref the picture of the hanging Dragon 2 showing the "toasty marshmallow" effects... (UPDATES thread)
Great picture!
The dimpling caused by the heating on the side of the spacecraft is fascinating; I don't remember noticing that on Cargo Dragon.
Can someone describe what is happening there and implications for potential refurbishment impacts?  Is it blistering due to moisture that naturally gets into the material (paint, insulation [PICA?] or whatever it is)?  It looks like some of the blisters have peeled off leaving almost pure white underneath.  Do those areas need to be replaced, or touched up, or could they refly as is on another orbital flight?  (And I understand that this particular vehicle will fly the abort test, and there are no known current plans to refly NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.)

Emphasis mine.

You will note the same effect, albeit less pronounced, on the pictures of a flown cargo Dragon in this post: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36598.msg1318663#msg1318663

[Grandpa to Two]

How does Dragon compare in size, weight and meters cubed to Dragon 2?

[AC in NC]

How does Dragon compare in size, weight and meters cubed to Dragon 2?