I see that boom lifts can get up to 185 feet, so that does seem like a possibility. But in that case, after the worker returns to ground, why not use that same system as the support, rather than bring in a separate crane? I suppose the crane could lift a platform into place and then take over station-keeping. We missed something in the wee hours!
For traditional "Sooting" to occur, you would need a fuel rich combustion with unburnt carbon in it to condense on the target surface (much like in diesel engines when under high load)Is Merlin using such a fuel rich mixture?
Regarding the scorch marks on the F9 core - I found an extremely educative video about flame protection and its effects on the 1969 Apollo 11 Saturb V launch - and the systems applied to the launch pad hold down clamps and service structures to protect them from the exhaustThe top of the Falcon 9 1st stage would face very similar conditions on 2nd stage ignition - and so does the tail end during reentry.For traditional "Sooting" to occur, you would need a fuel rich combustion with unburnt carbon in it to condense on the target surface (much like in diesel engines when under high load)Is Merlin using such a fuel rich mixture?I don't think so:Fuel rich kerosene burns yellow. That can be seen for example after stage landing. The first stage exhaust however has an extremely blue white tint to it, much brighter I think than in previous falcon 9 launches - maybe attributed to the denser, super cooled oxygen. That would indicate a balanced or even oxygen rich combustion, and that would hardly leave any sooting.Unless the burnt surface had a protective paint like these Saturn V structures, that would char them black
Quote from: CorvusCorax on 12/24/2015 11:30 pmFor traditional "Sooting" to occur, you would need a fuel rich combustion with unburnt carbon in it to condense on the target surface (much like in diesel engines when under high load)Is Merlin using such a fuel rich mixture?The gas generators likely burn fuel rich, and their exhaust goes overboard after turning the turbines. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: Kabloona on 12/22/2015 02:50 amQuote from: OSE on 12/22/2015 02:48 amhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/679145544673923072Any guesses on what the hose is for that the two workers are holding?Fire hose.Isn't the diameter of that hose too small to be a fire hose?
Quote from: OSE on 12/22/2015 02:48 amhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/679145544673923072Any guesses on what the hose is for that the two workers are holding?Fire hose.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/679145544673923072Any guesses on what the hose is for that the two workers are holding?
Quote from: deltaV on 12/22/2015 02:53 amQuote from: Kabloona on 12/22/2015 02:50 amQuote from: OSE on 12/22/2015 02:48 amhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/679145544673923072Any guesses on what the hose is for that the two workers are holding?Fire hose.Isn't the diameter of that hose too small to be a fire hose?It is the correct diameter for a "brush truck" hose that sits in a reel that can be pulled out at a moments notice and rolled back onto the reel easily. Knowing how Spacex likes to save money they probably bought a used brush fire truck off gov auctions when they were setting up LZ1. If the return had failed spectacularly they would have likely ended up using the truck for its originally intended purpose.
...I really hope that they come up with a mobile derector soon.
I know on the F9R in McGregor there was a circular loop on the top on the vehicle that they were able to latch on to directly from the crane as I watched them do it, I am doubtful this has the same on it though.
Quote from: Marslauncher on 12/25/2015 05:34 pmI know on the F9R in McGregor there was a circular loop on the top on the vehicle that they were able to latch on to directly from the crane as I watched them do it, I am doubtful this has the same on it though.It appears it gets caught by clamps on inter-stage that hold second stage.