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SpaceX just did a full duration test firing of a recovered 1st stage
Jeff Findley wrote on 8/8/2016 :
In article m, says... On 2016-08-06 10:47, Jeff Findley wrote: In the pictures of the latest Falcon 9 first stage firings in Texas, you can see a large weight attached to the top of the first stage. OK. That makes a difference. In all pictures of test firings i had seen, the engines were horizontal, and I don't think I ever saw a test firing of a stage. (aka: they tested engines, not a full rocket). Really? As far as I know, SpaceX has always tested its stages vertically. Saturn stages were tested vertically, IIRC. There's footage available on those. (At what is now Stennis?) NASA/ATK have done the horizontal for their most recent test for SLS. There's a new camera that produces beautiful video of it: URL:https://boingboing.net/2016/08/08/nasas-high-dynamic-range-st.html [...] /dps -- "What do you think of my cart, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it? Well hung: curricle-hung in fact. Come sit by me and we'll test the springs." (Speculative fiction by H.Lacedaemonian.) |
#52
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SpaceX just did a full duration test firing of a recovered 1st stage
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SpaceX just did a full duration test firing of a recovered 1st stage
JF Mezei wrote:
On 2016-08-07 08:02, Jeff Findley wrote: If that's the case, they'd only use that stage 9 times, since only having the ability to retank once is extremely limiting. Luckily, they'd know this ahead of time and would plan accordingly. There are very long lead times for launches. And if a stage is expected to be available to customer X in 3 years for their launch, but months before, that stage is declared "unusable" because it has been fueled too many times, will SpaceX then give the customer a spare brand new stage for that launch ? Mr Mezei, you are VERY confused about how all this works. Similarly, if SpaceX plans to use a stage 10 times, but it fails its landing after 2nd launch, there are 8 customers whose launches were depending on this stage who are now stuck without a launch vehicle. You seriously believe they're going to 'schedule' stages decades ahead of time? REALLY???? SpaceX will have to develop some sort of backup policies for when a stage fails to be re-usable in order to still be able to make launches on time. (rememeber that they also have to book the launch pad etc years ahead). Where do you get the idea that you "have to book the launch pad etc years ahead"? This is why I suggeted some time ago that SpaceX will need to build an inventory of used stages that are ready to for launch in order to "buffer" any mishap that removes a stage from the flow unexpectedly. Where 'inventory' is some number around three or less. Just how many launches do you think happen in a year? Another way to do business would be to sell only new stages at time of signing commitment/contract, but "at last minute" offer a used stage with discount IF one is available. If no used stages are available, customer still launches on time with new stage. And if a used stage is available, then it gets used, customer gets discount, and SpaceX has a spare brand spanking enw stage it can sell to someone else. There are all sorts of possible business models. I doubt Elon Musk needs your help in figuring them out. -- "Some people get lost in thought because it's such unfamiliar territory." --G. Behn |
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