SpaceX (Vol. 2)
Discussion
Scottish Wyldcat said:
Krikkit said:
Scottish Wyldcat said:
CFD? I am always caught out by acronyms 
Computational Fluid Dynamics 
Although I suspect he really means FEA - finite element analysis. Used to evaluate material/structure strength.
Flooble said:
Scottish Wyldcat said:
CFD? I am always caught out by acronyms
Computational Fluid Dynamics. Modelling the gases coming off the rocket, the wind blowing over the structure etc. I suspect there's some other computer modelling (the accurate kind, not the Imperial College sort) going on for the structure too - finite element analysis is going to crop up next I bet!
Just watched through it myself.
It's interesting that there is as much focus on the production methods as the ships themselves, but I guess with the scale they're aiming for it's so much more critical than it ever has been.
A lot of the thinking in there would be very useful being applied to almost any industry.
It's interesting that there is as much focus on the production methods as the ships themselves, but I guess with the scale they're aiming for it's so much more critical than it ever has been.
A lot of the thinking in there would be very useful being applied to almost any industry.
Krikkit said:
Scottish Wyldcat said:
CFD? I am always caught out by acronyms
Computational Fluid Dynamics Although I suspect he really means FEA - finite element analysis. Used to evaluate material/structure strength.
If you just fire a rocket against a concrete slab the risk is that the sound and fury of the rocket exhaust is reflected back on to the vehicle which as it is basically made of tin foil gets shaken to bits. Hence most launch pads have a deflector to direct the plume away from the vehicle and water deluge to both protect this deflector and absorb the noise. On most of the pads at Kennedy the deflector is located in a trench beneath the pad.
Later pads have generally used a water cooled steel diverter built above ground, this looks like a steel horn, this was actually the initial plan with Starship.
However SpaceX are now simply using a raised mount with pretty minimal deluge the prevent damage to the ground and the mount. They have been able to go for this design for two reasons:
1: They can crane their rocket on to an elevated mount and don't need to drive a giant crawler up to the mount.
2: They were able to accurately model what the rocket exhaust is doing with modern CFD
Early pad designers had to be much more conservative because:
1: They often didn't actually know what the rocket that was going to be launching from their pad was going to be like
2: The only data they could get about conditions from a real launch was pretty rudimentary 60's instrumentation mounted on a pad launching a much smaller rocket that was also designed in a conservative manner.
3: Scale tests don't have high fidelity
4: If they under designed they threw out the entire critical project as constructing the pads was a massive multi year endeavour
If SpaceX have under designed their pad and it damages a rocket, they will modify or rebuilt it in a few months (both rocket and pad)
Beati Dogu said:
Interesting interview with Elon and that’s just part 1. Wouldn’t want to be the guy to go tell the boss to put his hard hat on though.
This was filmed a few days ago as you can tell from the state of booster 4. It took a while to get the videos through the approval process.
The fact that you can say it was a few days ago by looking at the booster says it all about the speed they are moving. You can imagine filming an interview at Michoud and trying to do the same: "Well, based on the state of the Core Stage it was filmed in either 2019 or 2020". This was filmed a few days ago as you can tell from the state of booster 4. It took a while to get the videos through the approval process.
Ian974 said:
Just watched through it myself.
It's interesting that there is as much focus on the production methods as the ships themselves, but I guess with the scale they're aiming for it's so much more critical than it ever has been.
A lot of the thinking in there would be very useful being applied to almost any industry.
I work in design/manufacturing and it's always interesting hearing him talk about the machine that builds the machine.It's interesting that there is as much focus on the production methods as the ships themselves, but I guess with the scale they're aiming for it's so much more critical than it ever has been.
A lot of the thinking in there would be very useful being applied to almost any industry.
Yes it's quite an insight. I expect his days are predominantly production related. I like the idea of having individual names on designs or process decisions, rather than just a department.
Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
Beati Dogu said:
Yes it's quite an insight. I expect his days are predominantly production related. I like the idea of having individual names on designs or process decisions, rather than just a department.
Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
Problem with that is when someone leaves no one picks up the baton. But while someone is there I can see it working.Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
Smiljan said:
Are the black tall objects on the sides towards the bottom weights to lower the CofG?Also the hoses - are they choosing to keep it pressurised for movement?
shalmaneser said:
Beati Dogu said:
Yes it's quite an insight. I expect his days are predominantly production related. I like the idea of having individual names on designs or process decisions, rather than just a department.
Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
Problem with that is when someone leaves no one picks up the baton. But while someone is there I can see it working.Here's the top part of SN20. It's currently in the high bay being integrated with the lower part.
xeny said:
Smiljan said:
Are the black tall objects on the sides towards the bottom weights to lower the CofG?Also the hoses - are they choosing to keep it pressurised for movement?
Flooble said:
Beati Dogu said:
Interesting interview with Elon and that’s just part 1. Wouldn’t want to be the guy to go tell the boss to put his hard hat on though.
This was filmed a few days ago as you can tell from the state of booster 4. It took a while to get the videos through the approval process.
The fact that you can say it was a few days ago by looking at the booster says it all about the speed they are moving. You can imagine filming an interview at Michoud and trying to do the same: "Well, based on the state of the Core Stage it was filmed in either 2019 or 2020". This was filmed a few days ago as you can tell from the state of booster 4. It took a while to get the videos through the approval process.
David87 said:
That's more like it, 3 days in orbit. Showing Bezos and Branson how it's done 
Very surprised Elon isn't going though.
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