11 thoughts on “SN4”

1. So the set back is about improving the test facility.

2. Why on earth would they attempt to reconnect a QD just a minute after engine shutdown? What could they possibly be “testing” by doing that?

   1. JIT production of prototypes.

      1. 🙂

   2. One of their goals is to get rid of flaring and venting altogether. I’m guessing that this is a consequence of that requirement.

3. I imagine there’s a pretty short time between engine shutdown and before they have to vent somewhere in order to control pressure. It’s not a problem with RP1 but if they’re going to land this they’re going to have to figure out a way to vent the unused propellant safely.

   They used to use a special nozzle that mixed the gas with enough air to be below the lower explosive limit as an alternative to flaring. They aren’t used anymore because the methane is considered a worse pollutant than the combustion products.

   1. Methane as Greenhouse Gas Hysteria™ , again?

4. Valves can be component-level tested. This was unfortunate.

   1. Makes me wonder why they decided to do this test this particular way. Testing the quick disconnects using a filled container doesn’t seem particularly prudent I have to agree. Also worrisome is that if the flare didn’t set this off what did? And what do you rely on to mitigate the effects of a large methane spill cloud just waiting to detonate?

      Testing the criticality of a plutonium core to determine the minimal gap distance with a screwdriver isn’t recommended either.

5. Probably not custom made valves at this early stage, and SpaceX has had problems before with vendor certified products (recalling CRS-7 for one).

6. They say that the last Falcon-9 first stage was recovered for the fifth time, a record. Does anyone know if they plan to use it again?

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