Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

SpaceX Starship & Super Heavy booster [Raptor Vacuum breathes fire]

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Boca Chica's definitely evolving into a space-shipyard, and Starship test vehicle SN3 is stacking.

    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 19 March 2020, 20:08.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

    Comment


    • Starshio SN-03's propulsion module being moved to the pad for pressure tests, static fires, and test hops & flights.





      On the test stand



      IMG_20200329_182130.jpg
      Dr. Mordrid
      ----------------------------
      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

      Comment


      • Starship SN-03 is on the pad at Boca Chica TX preparing fof pressure tests, static fires and hops. 3 large hydraulic jack's have been installed to simulate Raptor thrust loads during the pressure tests.

        SN-04 parts are in production, and new infrastructure is being built.

        Latest news:

        Starship SN-03 has a new landing leg design. There are 6, and before deployment they're folded up into the engine bay. When deployed these legs flip out and telescope, giving Starship a wider stance when landed.

        Up-skirt view of SN-03 showing the yellow thrust-load jacks, which simulates the thrust of the 3 center Raptor sea level engines, block the view of 2 legs.



        - Starship SN-04 on will have even longer telescoping legs for an even wider stance.

        - 3 more Raptor vacuum engines and 3 lower cargo bins, or 6 more Raptor sea level engines, can also fit in there. Beastly.

        BIG NEWS:

        SpaceX Starship Users Guide (PDF)...

        Wow....

        Bullet points,

        * Payload and Propulsion modules are modular, both vertically integrated.

        * Payload and Propulsion modules can be swapped in & out.

        * Integration: "Payloads are integrated into the Starship fairing vertically in ISO Class 8 (Class 100,000) cleanrooms"

        * Payloads: "The uncrewed Starship allows for the transport of satellites, large observatories, cargo, refueling tanks"...

        So, the tanker won't necessarily use residual props from launch but also props in separate tanks. BIG tanks.

        * 2 standard payload bay configurarions:

        Standard: 8x17.24 meters
        Extended: 8x22+ meters

        Custom lengths available (!!)

        Standard bay



        Payload Mass



        * "Chomper" payload deployment: standard interfaces, tilting deployment table.



        * Co-manifesting

        - 1-3x geosynchronous telecom satellite(s)
        - Full constellation of satellites on a single mission
        - 1-2x geosynchronous telecom satellites plus rideshare system of small satellites
        - In-space demonstration spacecraft that remains integrated with Starship and returns to Earth
        - Cargo and crew configurations

        * Space Shuttle 2.0: "Fully-reusable Starship and Super Heavy systems are expected to allow for space-based activities that have not been possible since the retirement of the Space Shuttle and Space Transportation System or have never been possible before."

        Whew....
        Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 1 April 2020, 03:43.
        Dr. Mordrid
        ----------------------------
        An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

        I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

        Comment


        • Jeff Foust @jeff_foust
          Looks like the FAA NOTAM is posted for a SpaceX Starship SN3 static fire test as soon as Wednesday:

          https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1989.html …
          12:24 PM - Mar 30, 2020

          Dr. Mordrid
          ----------------------------
          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

          Comment


          • They lost SN-03 to a test setup problem. This was not a design/build issue.

            SN-04 is preparing to be stacked.



            Pranay Pathole @PPathole
            Elon, it seemed like CH4 tank was filled and the LOX tank which was not filled collapsed because of the weight.
            |
            Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
            Pretty much. Good news is that this was a test configuration error, rather than a design or build mistake. Not enough pressure in the LOX tank ullage to maintain
            |
            |There are redundant pressure control valves. It’s a new system and SN3 was simply commanded wrong. Rockets are hard.
            Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 5 April 2020, 00:45.
            Dr. Mordrid
            ----------------------------
            An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

            I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

            Comment


            • Hoping to pressure test Starship test article SN-04 tomorrow, April 25. FAA has issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) for a test hop to 1500 feet in about a week.

              SN-05 has moved into the High Bay for stacking, and SN-06 parts are being built.
              Dr. Mordrid
              ----------------------------
              An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

              I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

              Comment


              • On to mounting the Raptor engines and at least one static fire.

                "SN4 PASSED CRYO PROOF! "

                Dr. Mordrid
                ----------------------------
                An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                Comment


                • 2 days, 2 static fires of SN-04

                  SN-05 (being stacked) and SN-06 (parts being produced) are in the wings, and requests are in to FAA for flight clearances; a 150m hop and a 20km jump.

                  Tonight's

                  Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 7 May 2020, 01:13.
                  Dr. Mordrid
                  ----------------------------
                  An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                  I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                  Comment


                  • Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
                    SN4 passed high pressure (7.5 bar) & engine thrust load at cryo

                    Dr. Mordrid
                    ----------------------------
                    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                    Comment


                    • Notice To AirMen at Boca Chica, ops leading to a static fire using Raptor s/n 20.

                      Tuesday May 12 to Thursday May 14

                      Window: 1000 to 2200 Eastern
                      Dr. Mordrid
                      ----------------------------
                      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                      Comment


                      • Buckle up kiddies...

                        1 hour after today's successful SN-04 static fire with a 25 tonne mass simulator, the FAA issued a 2 year suborbital RLV launch license. This is for any number for Starship missions.



                        Monday's NOTAM is for up to 26,000 feet.

                        Also; they'll be removing the flare stack, replacing it with a condensation unit so they can trap & liquify vented methane instead of burning it.

                        Dr. Mordrid
                        ----------------------------
                        An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                        I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                        Comment


                        • It went Ka-Beauuwm... rather spectacularly...
                          Hey, Donny! We got us a German who wants to die for his country... Oblige him. - Lt. Aldo Raine

                          Comment


                          • Looks like the GSE let go during de-tanking, perhaps damaged by the static fire, and methane pooled under the stand. Once that happens a boomski is inevitable.

                            On the bright side, they were going to redo the GSE anyhow to add re-condensing vented methane, there's a second test stand mostly built, and SN-05 is already stacked in High Bay 1.
                            Dr. Mordrid
                            ----------------------------
                            An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                            I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                            Comment


                            • SN4 boomski,

                              Joey Roulette @joroulette
                              Elon Musk, leaving the KSC press site just now, said of yesterday's Starship test in Boca Chica Texas: "Unfortunately what we thought was going to be a minor test of a quick disconnect ended up being a big problem," referring to the explosion.

                              Dr. Mordrid
                              ----------------------------
                              An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                              I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                              Comment


                              • High Bay 2 (Super Heavy) coming soon

                                This fits with high construction activity at the Super Heavy pad site.

                                Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
                                Giant high bay coming soon
                                |
                                Chris B - NSF @NASASpaceflight
                                Replying to @elonmusk
                                Oh my! And we thought the High Bay currently being used to stack Starship was impressive. Something for Super Heavy stacking I assume? KSC VAB scale?
                                |
                                Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
                                Yeah, for Super Heavy stacking

                                Dr. Mordrid
                                ----------------------------
                                An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                                I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X