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Old May 15th 18, 12:13 PM posted to sci.space.policy
Jeff Findley[_6_]
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Default First flight of Block 5 successful launch and landing

In article ,
says...

On 2018-05-14 06:23, Jeff Findley wrote:

What we saw has been described as the end of the beginning for SpaceX.
At this point Block 5 should be standardized as much as possible so that
NASA will certify it for crewed flights. NASA really won't tolerate the
sort of continuous tweaking that SpaceX did on the first 50+ flights.



During launch commentary, the commentator mentioned no planned major
changes for Falcon 9 anymore, but that tweaks would likely continue to
be done for minor improvements.


Sure, as long as NASA approves of the "minor improvements".

Does NASA require "brand spanking new" Stage I for crewed flights or
tolerate re-used stages ?


Last I heard they still want new stages for crewed flights. They have
said that eventually they may approve of the use of flight proven
stages.

It should be noted that the very first Block 5 not only managed to land,
but landed on "I still love you" for its very first flight. Shows
landing software/expertise has matured and still worked despite new
engines, new fins, new landing gear.


The "new" titanium grid fins have flown before. Cite:

Falcon 9 rocket launching Sunday sports fin upgrade
June 25, 2017
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/2...nching-sunday-
sports-fin-upgrade/

Pretty much everything you say is new is an incremental upgrade over
previous versions, so the likelihood of failure is rather low, IMHO.
Also, I'd bet that all of these changes have been reviewed by NASA as
part of commercial crew. Some of the changes have been made at NASA's
request (like the Merlin 1D turbopump changes intended to eliminate
micro-fractures).

Jeff
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