YazataJul 1, 2020 07:18 PM (This post was last modified: Jul 1, 2020 07:56 PM by Yazata.)
No official news, but word is that cryo testing last night was successful and the hydraulic thrust ram is being removed to be replaced by a Raptor engine.
"Her foundation looks light, I don't know how she keeps from toppling over when she stands up." --Emma Galbert, referencing a former, disputed record holder during a photography session.
The hydraulic thrust rams have been removed, but as yet no sign of a new Raptor rocket engine. Mary is alert to spot it (she loves getting closeups that reveal the engine serial numbers so that the geeks can keep track of which one is which). Unknown whether the July 8 engine is already at Boca, or whether it's still up at McGregor where they are test-fired.
I'm guessing the latter, since it was known (from Elon) that there were three engines at Boca, one was destroyed in the SN4 explosion, while two were seen and photographed being placed in the Raptor-van and trucked off to parts unknown. No new ones have been seen arriving, but Mary is watching attentively.
Edit: Spoke too soon. LabPadre's stream has a new Raptor heading from the build area towards the launch area. One of the photos seems to show the number 27. Mary hasn't checked in yet, she may have better photos.
Bonus feature -- Check out Cranezilla in the background.
"Her foundation looks light, I don't know how she keeps from toppling over when she stands up." --Emma Galbert, referencing a former, disputed record holder during a photography session.
YazataJul 5, 2020 08:00 PM (This post was last modified: Jul 5, 2020 08:44 PM by Yazata.)
The FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions up to 1500 feet, extending from July 8 to July 22. Definitely for a static fire, and maybe a short vertical takeoff and landing Hoppy-style hop as well.
Shot of Cranezilla from twitter by local photographer Carlos Nunez of CNunezImages
Elon replied on twitter, "It's absurdly large"
(Which is probably why he likes it. Elon's never seen a crane, giant tent or boomlift that he doesn't like, the bigger the better. You can never have enough.)
(Jul 5, 2020 08:00 PM)Yazata Wrote: Shot of Cranezilla from twitter by local photographer Carlos Nunez of CNunezImages
Elon replied, "It's absurdly large" (Which is probably why he likes it. Elon's never seen a crane, giant tent or boomlift that he doesn't like, the bigger the better. You can never have enough.)
Akira Ifukube: “For the roar .... I took out the lowest string of a contrabass and then ran a glove that had resin on it across the string. The different kinds of roars were created by playing the recording of the sound that I’d made at different speeds.”
confused2Jul 6, 2020 01:44 AM (This post was last modified: Jul 6, 2020 01:46 AM by confused2.)
Yazata Wrote:The FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions up to 1500 feet, extending from July 8 to July 22. Definitely for a static fire, and maybe a short vertical takeoff and landing Hoppy-style hop as well.
I've kind of adjusted to static fires - some more catastrophic than others. The Hoppy-style hop was something else entirely - like 'Mars here we come!'.
Edit - Jeez - awesome crane.
YazataJul 7, 2020 03:15 AM (This post was last modified: Jul 7, 2020 03:52 AM by Yazata.)
(Jul 6, 2020 01:44 AM)confused2 Wrote:
Yazata Wrote:The FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions up to 1500 feet, extending from July 8 to July 22. Definitely for a static fire, and maybe a short vertical takeoff and landing Hoppy-style hop as well.
I've kind of adjusted to static fires - some more catastrophic than others.
I'm growing weary of tanks bursting. The SN4 explosion was something new, but one of those is enough. It is (kinda) heartening that the last two full-scale tank failures weren't the fault of the test tanks.
One was the result of a test-configuration error that allowed the LOX tank to depressurize dangerously while the CH4 tank remained filled with heavy N2, so that the structure crumpled. So that one was human error, whether in planning or execution.
The other was the result of the inadequacy of the ground-support connections. These seem to have burst as they were detanking fuel and oxidizer after a successful static fire, leading to the creation of an explosive fuel-oxidizer mixture below the vehicle (which was obliterated, along with the test stand).
Hopefully they learned from all their failures. They have improved the welds (and continue to do so), they have doubtless gone over their test procedures, and the ground support arrangements have been completely redesigned and appear far more stout. (Lots of heavy-duty plumbing under the latest test stand, not just a bunch of impromptu hoses.)
Quote:The Hoppy-style hop was something else entirely - like 'Mars here we come!'.
Yeah, it was inspiring, wasn't it? I'm looking forward to SN5 (hopefully) flying. It will be entertaining to see it fly a little wonky since its single engine will be a little off-center. (Because the thrust dome on the bottom is designed for three engines.) So its flight won't look exactly right, since the cylinder will be flying at a slight angle to the vertical (as the engine thrusts up from off-center through its center of gravity). Everyone wants to know if it will do a power-slide off to the side as it rises off the test stand.
Quote:Edit - Jeez - awesome crane.
Lots of interesting engineering things to look at while we wait for something to finally fly.
Carlos Nunez image of the new ground support arrangements
Beautiful sunset shot from today (July 6) by Mary of the Super-Giant Crane in the distance. (She calls it Bluezilla, it's painted blue.) The place in front of it that the boom is above, is expected to be where the new (really) High Bay is expected to go. Elon has started calling the existing High Bay (where SN6 is waiting patiently) the "Mid Bay". (Right edge of the photograph.)
YazataJul 7, 2020 05:39 AM (This post was last modified: Jul 7, 2020 05:45 AM by Yazata.)
Here's a very good animation showing, first, a Boca Chica hop test launch of a Starship test prototype with a nose fairing, but without any fins or flipper-flappers.
The thing rises, then the image turns into an operational Starship, which procedes to demonstrate the extremely unorthodox propulsive landing method that they are planning (shown happening on Mars this time).
Lots of people are going to turn out to watch these things land like this on Earth, just because it will be such a spectacle, something to see. They plan to have their spaceships fall sideways to an absurdly low altitude, maybe just 1000 feet, then have it do a radical 90 degree pitch-up maneuver and complete a propulsive landing in just a few seconds. (Astronauts aboard will need to keep their barf-bags handy.)
Jul 1, 2020 07:18 PM
(This post was last modified: Jul 1, 2020 07:56 PM by Yazata.)
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