|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewedlaunches begin?
Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane?
|
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon whencrewed launches begin?
On Dec 8, 8:35*am, Alan Erskine wrote:
Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? i would assume a roll back tower for easy access and esy escape. how does soyuz do it? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon whencrewed launches begin?
On 9/12/2010 12:40 AM, bob haller safety advocate wrote:
On Dec 8, 8:35 am, Alan wrote: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? i would assume a roll back tower for easy access and esy escape. how does soyuz do it? I think they do it from the strong-back, but I'm not sure. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewed launches begin?
In sci.space.shuttle message
igpond.com, Thu, 9 Dec 2010 00:35:36, Alan Erskine posted: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? I suggest steps such as are used in aircraft, but on double pairs of rails for mobility. When the entry support crew has left, pull something like a giant steel tape-measure up the steps, forming an escape chute. At Falcon T=-0.5 seconds, light a splayed pair of JATO bottles to move the steps back - or a rope with windlass powered by a big Catherine Wheel, -- (c) John Stockton, nr London, UK. Turnpike v6.05 MIME. Web http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQqish topics, acronyms and links; Astro stuff via astron-1.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm, etc. No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail News. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon whencrewed launches begin?
On 10/12/2010 9:40 AM, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
In sci.space.shuttle igpond.com, Thu, 9 Dec 2010 00:35:36, Alan Erskine posted: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? I suggest steps such as are used in aircraft, but on double pairs of rails for mobility. When the entry support crew has left, pull something like a giant steel tape-measure up the steps, forming an escape chute. At Falcon T=-0.5 seconds, light a splayed pair of JATO bottles to move the steps back - or a rope with windlass powered by a big Catherine Wheel, Steps? That's a 50m climb - about 15 stories! That's a hell-of-a climb. With steps, you'd have problems moving them back fast enough and might tip them _into_ the launch vehicle if it wasn't weighted properly. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewed launches begin?
On Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:35:36 +1100, Alan Erskine
wrote: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? I don't see any way around them building a new launch pad. Cherry Pickers and Cranes are no good, the crew has to be able to evacuate fast, so they'll need a bonafide service tower... something much more tangible than the current strongback. Problem is, they'll have to take LC-40 down for something like a year to install all those new systems and upgrades (it took ULA a year to make much less ambitious repairs and upgrades at LC-37 in 2008.) and with Falcon 9/Dragon being their bread and butter, SpaceX can't afford to take LC-40 down for a year. New pad... probably at LC-39. Brian |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon whencrewed launches begin?
On 11/12/2010 4:18 PM, Brian Thorn wrote:
On Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:35:36 +1100, Alan Erskine wrote: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? I don't see any way around them building a new launch pad. Cherry Pickers and Cranes are no good, the crew has to be able to evacuate fast, so they'll need a bonafide service tower... something much more tangible than the current strongback. Problem is, they'll have to take LC-40 down for something like a year to install all those new systems and upgrades (it took ULA a year to make much less ambitious repairs and upgrades at LC-37 in 2008.) and with Falcon 9/Dragon being their bread and butter, SpaceX can't afford to take LC-40 down for a year. New pad... probably at LC-39. Brian But Pad 37 had been out of service for much longer - hadn't been used since the early days of Apollo. LC-40 was in use two years (or so) ago (?), so not everything needed to be replaced. Also, a prefabricated system could be build, much like a smaller version of the LC-39 tower and then simply bolted into place, section on top of section. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewed launches begin?
Alan Erskine formuleerde op zaterdag :
On 11/12/2010 4:18 PM, Brian Thorn wrote: On Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:35:36 +1100, Alan Erskine wrote: Build a tower, use a 'cherry-picker' or use a crane? I don't see any way around them building a new launch pad. Cherry Pickers and Cranes are no good, the crew has to be able to evacuate fast, so they'll need a bonafide service tower... something much more tangible than the current strongback. Problem is, they'll have to take LC-40 down for something like a year to install all those new systems and upgrades (it took ULA a year to make much less ambitious repairs and upgrades at LC-37 in 2008.) and with Falcon 9/Dragon being their bread and butter, SpaceX can't afford to take LC-40 down for a year. New pad... probably at LC-39. Brian But Pad 37 had been out of service for much longer - hadn't been used since the early days of Apollo. I think you meant LC-34. Last launch there was in 1968. This was also the pas where the crew of Apollo 1 was killed. Last launch at LC-37 was may this year. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewed launches begin?
On Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:07:51 +1100, Alan Erskine
wrote: (it took ULA a year to make much less ambitious repairs and upgrades at LC-37 in 2008.) and with Falcon 9/Dragon being their bread and butter, SpaceX can't afford to take LC-40 down for a year. New pad... probably at LC-39. But Pad 37 had been out of service for much longer - hadn't been used since the early days of Apollo. Boeing rebuilt LC-37B in the late 1990s and it saw its first Delta IV launch in 2002. Boeing had to modify and repair the pad in 2008, and there were no launches from LC-37 at all in 2008. LC-40 was in use two years (or so) ago (?), so not everything needed to be replaced. LC-40's last Titan IV launch was in 2005. SpaceX took over the pad in 2007. First Falcon 9 launch was in 2010. Also, a prefabricated system could be build, much like a smaller version of the LC-39 tower and then simply bolted into place, section on top of section. Still will take a year, at least. Brian |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Falcon 9 - how are they going to get crew up to the Dragon when crewed launches begin?
On Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:47:25 +0100, André, PE1PQX
wrote: I don't see any way around them building a new launch pad. But Pad 37 had been out of service for much longer - hadn't been used since the early days of Apollo. I think you meant LC-34. Last launch there was in 1968. This was also the pas where the crew of Apollo 1 was killed. Last launch at LC-37 was may this year. November 21st. But no, Alan misunderstood. I wasn't referring to how long it took Boeing to rebuild LC-37 from its Saturn IB days (1998-2001), I was referring to the year it was offline for repairs (2008). Brian |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Dragon/Falcon 9 Update | [email protected] | Policy | 16 | October 7th 09 04:42 PM |
No escape tower on Dragon / Falcon 9 | [email protected] | Policy | 0 | October 1st 08 04:36 AM |
No escape tower on Dragon / Falcon 9 | Dr J R Stockton[_14_] | Policy | 0 | September 30th 08 08:23 PM |
No escape tower on Dragon / Falcon 9 | [email protected] | Policy | 0 | September 30th 08 03:43 PM |