tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post3938635245021083230..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Wasn't A Perfect Day After AllSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-2488512400692821712019-04-18T16:56:49.194-04:002019-04-18T16:56:49.194-04:00They should at least make it so when they have a f...They should at least make it so when they have a failure, it will be at (recreational) diving depths!Rogernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-16572040780780475622019-04-18T13:52:38.875-04:002019-04-18T13:52:38.875-04:00The most important thing in that video (IMO, of co...The most important thing in that video (IMO, of course) is that there's a herd of companies starting up that think there's going to be a big market for small satellite launchers. If his numbers are good, and I'm sure he was right five years ago for that video, we're looking at a major shakeout of providers in the next couple of years. There's just not as many pending microsat launches as these companies are envisioning. <br /><br />As the video went by, I became convinced I watched that back closer to when it was released. <br /><br />I thought it was interesting that the developer of the Pegasus would say there's no future for reusable boosters when the B-52 they use is nothing but a reusable booster. I understand his distinction based on the shear thermal energy released being lower in the case of the aircraft while the booster releases more in a shorter period. SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-90661754070235132072019-04-17T19:24:36.892-04:002019-04-17T19:24:36.892-04:00I figured that they knew what it takes to fix it a...I figured that they knew what it takes to fix it and it cost too much. <br /><br />At some point they have to balance the cost of the fix versus the chances of losing the booster like this, costs due to weather delays, and so on. At what cost/benefit ratio they decide to fix the problem is anyone's guess. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-54192167430705359012019-04-17T19:19:58.136-04:002019-04-17T19:19:58.136-04:00I suggest everyone who believes in reusable booste...I suggest everyone who believes in reusable boosters watch Antonio Elias talk "Space Transportation: Past, Present and ...?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY3GclS5VUQ<br /><br />Dan KurtDan Kurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08252444956956894276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-71450665200739137222019-04-17T18:11:46.311-04:002019-04-17T18:11:46.311-04:00I figure they will conquer this problem. The arti...I figure they will conquer this problem. The article at Space.com stated that an automated(?) hold down system could not be used because of the attach points for the side boosters but would be remedied soon. BillBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593147581583316765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-11631495810387442142019-04-16T22:49:27.883-04:002019-04-16T22:49:27.883-04:00Some sort of reverse elevation gantry system, to g...Some sort of reverse elevation gantry system, to grab and lower the booster, would be good. Of course, as our noble host pointed out, a larger ship would be better. Increase the length vs width for a more stable platform.<br /><br />The landing ships may have some of the same issues that big catamarans have over same sized single hulled ships. The wide hulls give great overall stability, but the frequency of the waves, and the way they are hitting, affects the hull a lot. Cat hulls are great on mid-choppy, but single hulls ride better, in my opinion, in rough seas.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-70285069650357462792019-04-16T22:28:54.089-04:002019-04-16T22:28:54.089-04:00Still lots of leverage up high, with a tripod base...Still lots of leverage up high, with a tripod base, and waves in open water are not as rhythmic as you might assume, peaks and valleys are rarely uniform, distance or height. Still, "welders"; this is a 1950's solution to a 21st century scenario.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-21249562819854326562019-04-16T21:38:02.062-04:002019-04-16T21:38:02.062-04:00When you consider that the ship is about as long a...When you consider that the ship is about as long as a football field - over 330', and has a very wide beam, it's a bit more puzzling. Add in that the booster is probably pretty bottom heavy, since there's no fuel in it and the engines add a lot of mass at the bottom. It doesn't seem to make sense. <br /> SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-45303960529607175532019-04-16T21:38:00.554-04:002019-04-16T21:38:00.554-04:00Or maybe they need to design their recover vehicle...Or maybe they need to design their recover vehicle more like an offshore oil rig, where the center of mass is way below the surface, and less impacted by waves. (Goes up and down, doesn't list back and forth.) Zendo Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00094772654735415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-42329184644814094922019-04-16T21:17:53.713-04:002019-04-16T21:17:53.713-04:008 to 10 foot swells offshore are not a big deal. (...8 to 10 foot swells offshore are not a big deal. (Depending on the frequency... how close the waves are together.) <br /><br />I think we may have an instance of a design that didn't consider environmental factors. Zendo Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00094772654735415974noreply@blogger.com