On May/25/2018 at 8:46 PM, Fred J. McCall wrote :
"Greg \(Strider\) Moore" wrote on Fri,
25 May 2018 20:16:59 -0400:

"Fred J. McCall" wrote in message
...

NASA is at least verbally sounding more encouraging about the SpaceX
'Load and Go' launch for manned vehicles. This is good because, while
they could do it the other way, there would be a performance hit due
to the propellants having time to warm up. Block 5 has some extra
performance over Block 4, so there may be some headspace there, but
why give it up?


Yeah, I saw that the other day. I have mixed feelings about it. I think the
performance benefit is nice, but it is one more risk. I think over time
though we'll have enough data points to know exactly how big of a risk. Is
it 1 in 100 or 1 in 1,000,000 sort of thing... Time will tell.

I wouldn't want to wait until we have enough data points to tell the
risk is 1 in 1,000,000. :-)

I don't consider it a risk any more than doing it the other way.

A SpaceX rocket went kaboom recently while filling the tanks. So there
is a risk with having astronauts on board while fuelling. What extra
risk do you see the other way?


Alain Fournier