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Old September 24th 20, 01:08 PM posted to sci.space.policy
Jeff Findley[_6_]
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Posts: 2,307
Default SN7.1 not snuffed in Boca Chica squall

In article mn.bb607e49969c869c.127094@snitoo,
says...

Snidely presented the following explanation :
Stayed up through the attempt to get SN7.1 to fail. After the scrub, just
before I shutdown my screen, I thought I saw SN7.1 being craned back onto
the launchstand with the thrust simulator, and I thought the LabPadre steam
yesterday showed it there, but currently SN7.1 seems to be back on the
transport stand. Next attempt on the 21st (9pm CDT 0200 UTC).

Did I really see the move? If so, this is probably because the transport
stand or the improvised GSE needed repairs. NSF reported that the LN2 feed
was not directly from the tank farm, but via Pad A (to the left in the usual
views, not the stand with the thrust simulator). There was a lot vapor
clouds during the start-up of the two loading attempts on the 17th; they must
not have interfered with SpaceX's view, but for us viewers it sure produced a
lot of gasps.

The second attempt was apparently stopped due to a visible spark, speculated
to be a cable being wind-whipped over some upper-ring fittings.

The downpour may have reached a level to obscure SpaceX's view, as they
didn't attempt another load after the rain came in buckets, even though there
may have been enough time left in the window.


Popped on the third night of testing. In contrast to SN7, SN7.1 popped
at the top, like a champagne bottle.

URL:https://youtu.be/CkFFgngw6Q4


The closeups of the aftermath look pretty good to me. It looks like it
didn't rip at the welds, which means they've gotten really good at that.
This is quite a good sign. That and the switch to a different variant
of stainless steel are signs that they're really "dialing in" their
manufacturing methods.

The goal here is to be able to inexpensively produce a veritable fleet
of Starships and Super Boosters, not one every year and a half like SLS
cores.

Jeff
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