Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS/SpX-10 Dragon - Feb. 19, 2017 - Discussion  (Read 418667 times)

Online FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 50717
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 85227
  • Likes Given: 38177
Presumably the LRR was ok apart from the leak, as Elon said they'll launch if the leak is ok?

What I'm not clear about is what will have been loaded on S2 to leak since the static fire?

Offline MarekCyzio


I wonder if this will be a showstopper.

F9 should have significantly more hellium than required. Lots of hellium is used to chill second stage engine and this flight does not have second engine burn. But who knows if the leak will stay "tiny" during flight....

Offline MarekCyzio

Presumably the LRR was ok apart from the leak, as Elon said they'll launch if the leak is ok?

What I'm not clear about is what will have been loaded on S2 to leak since the static fire?

All tanks are constantly pressurized. A little, but pressurized. I guess something in stage 2 started to show dropping pressure.

Offline deruch

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2422
  • California
  • Liked: 2006
  • Likes Given: 5634
...Lots of hellium is used to chill second stage engine...
I believe LOX, not helium, is used to chill down the engines prior to ignition (for both 1st stage and 2nd stage engines). 
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15502
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8788
  • Likes Given: 1386
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832647116816150530
@elonmusk

Investigating a (very small) leak in the upper stage. If ok, will launch tomorrow.

Guessing helium?
Possibly. Possibly the stage pressure relief valve.

I wonder if this will be a showstopper.
After September 1, it should be, IMO.  Is there such a thing as a "very small" leak in a rocket that can disappear in a fireball and destroy a launch pad in a fraction of a second?

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 02/17/2017 06:42 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline mdeep

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 188
  • NSF Photographer
  • Tampa Bay
  • Liked: 1138
  • Likes Given: 6
Just wrapped remote camera setup

Offline mdeep

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 188
  • NSF Photographer
  • Tampa Bay
  • Liked: 1138
  • Likes Given: 6
LC39A briefing about to begin

Offline Herb Schaltegger

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832647116816150530
@elonmusk

Investigating a (very small) leak in the upper stage. If ok, will launch tomorrow.

Guessing helium?
Possibly. Possibly the stage pressure relief valve.

I wonder if this will be a showstopper.
After September 1, it should be, IMO.  Is there such a thing as a "very small" leak in a rocket that can disappear in a fireball and destroy a launch pad in a fraction of a second?

 - Ed Kyle
Everyone seems to be presuming this is a helium leak. Is that confirmed? It could be a leaking pressure relief valve, umbilical connector or stage itself (not likely). But until SpaceX says what it is, everyone should just keep the catastrophizing to a minimum.
Ad astra per aspirin ...

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
Confirmation on why the launch was delayed to the 18th...

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98934#.WKb9MVdPwiQ.facebook

 FCET Success: SSBN Launches Fleet Ballistic Missiles

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- An Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine assigned to Submarine Group 9 completed a Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test (FCET) Feb. 16, resulting in four successful test flights of Trident II D5 missiles. Designated FCET-53, the operation spanned a three-day period.
Only a question from someone, who is far away from the US.
The Submarine Group 9 is part of the Pacific Fleet, why they are launching their rockets from the Atlantic Ocean?

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37818
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 22048
  • Likes Given: 430

Only a question from someone, who is far away from the US.
The Submarine Group 9 is part of the Pacific Fleet, why they are launching their rockets from the Atlantic Ocean?

Because that is where the test range is.

Offline rockets4life97

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 800
  • Liked: 538
  • Likes Given: 367
The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37818
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 22048
  • Likes Given: 430
The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

No, that is what starts up the Merlin

Offline Ilikeboosterrockets

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 88
  • Likes Given: 34
The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

No, that is what starts up the Merlin

Presumably the turbopumps?

Offline edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15502
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8788
  • Likes Given: 1386
Everyone seems to be presuming this is a helium leak. Is that confirmed? I
Yes.  Gwynne Shotwell just confirmed.  She said it was in the "spin system", which Jim noted was for engine starting.  Obviously, that engine's gotta start!

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 02/17/2017 07:28 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline IanThePineapple

Wow, the helium system is the cause for so many problems...

Offline northenarc

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 659
  • United States
  • Liked: 238
  • Likes Given: 563
 Gwynne Shotwell finds destinations outside the solar system more interesting than Mars, (Elon maybe building secret Project Orion Bond villain style?  ???  :P ;) )   

Offline IanThePineapple

The Falcon getting late payloads loaded on 39A in the background is a beautiful backdrop for the Q&A

Offline edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15502
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8788
  • Likes Given: 1386
The Falcon getting late payloads loaded on 39A in the background is a beautiful backdrop for the Q&A
I think this may be the most informative SpaceX press conference I've seen.  Really good questions and answers.

 - Ed Kyle

Offline georgegassaway

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 226
    • George's Rockets
  • Liked: 286
  • Likes Given: 76
This was posted in the CRS-10 Updates thread:

Update on upper stage leak from Nasa TV 39A: Helium leak in the spin system on the second stage, "I believe we found it...as far as I know we're going to proceed into the count"

What is the "spin system" being referenced?  I did some googling to try to find out and only found a reference to  "spin start support systems" when LC-40 was being prepared for F9 launches.  Spin-up of pumps, or what?
Info on my flying Lunar Module Quadcopter: https://tinyurl.com/LunarModuleQuadcopter

Offline Herb Schaltegger

Wow, the helium system is the cause for so many problems...
Helium is a tiny molecule and very difficult to contain. Not the same issue at all as the COPV failure.
Ad astra per aspirin ...

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1