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SpaceX failure investigation update - October 28, 2016
Below are updates regarding the anomaly that occurred in preparation for the AMOS-6 mission: October 28, 4:00pm EDT http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/09/01/anomaly-updates From above: Through extensive testing in Texas, SpaceX has shown that it can re-create a COPV failure entirely through helium loading conditions. These conditions are mainly affected by the temperature and pressure of the helium being loaded. In other words, there is still hope (as was reported previously by SpaceX) that this is an operational problem, not an engineering design problem. By carefully controlling the temperature and pressure of the helium being loaded inside the helium tank, it should be possible to avoid an accident like this in the future. Also, SpaceX isn't the only company that has had trouble with loading of COPV helium tanks. It can be a bit tricky: Similar issues at Armadillo Aerospace: http://spacefellowship.com/news/art1...ce-2009-lunar- lander-challenge-level-2-done-.html From above: While testing of this configuration, I hit on an idea that wound up being very useful ? we set up a counterflow heat exchanger that ran the lox vent through the outside, and the helium fill through the inside. This let us get significantly more helium in the tanks, and completely quashed any worries about overheating the helium tanks. They actually start to frost over at the beginning. Jeff -- All opinions posted by me on Usenet News are mine, and mine alone. These posts do not reflect the opinions of my family, friends, employer, or any organization that I am a member of. |
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