What do they all have in common? Well, as it turns out, not as much as I thought, or at least hoped, when I wrote this post at The Corner, because we now know that SpaceX won’t be flying tomorrow, due to a nozzle issue on the second stage. But the main points of it stand.
By the way, if they can change out a nozzle with only an additional two-day delay, that’s pretty remarkable. That kind of problem on the Shuttle could mean weeks. As I noted in comments over at Clark Lindsey’s, though, I wonder how many spares they have for upper-stage nozzles? If it were a first-stage nozzle, it would probably be no problem, because with nine engines, they have to really be cranking them out. But the single engine on the firstsecond stage, while using the same powerhead, has a different nozzle, because it has a higher expansion ratio for vacuum operations. But presumably, they have at least one in Florida, or if not, it’s a one-day trip from Hawthorne.
without the DoD throwing money his way for year after year, SpaceX would have gone under years ago
Another genius heard from.
Did ya watch the pre-mission press conference today? The questions were horrible.. and people wonder why I think the media are a pack of morons.
people wonder why I think the media are a pack of morons
Gee, what kind of people? Aborigines who have lived in trees these past 30 years? Victims of Alzheimer’s?
I would have surmised that a Gallup poll of registered adults consisting of the single question Are the media a pack of morons? would garner a 93% “Is there something stronger than ‘Strongly Agree’?” response, across all political parties.
“…or if not, it’s a one-day trip from Hawthorne.”
By high-speed Chinese rail?
By the way, if they can change out a nozzle with only an additional two-day delay, that’s pretty remarkable. That kind of problem on the Shuttle could mean weeks.
From first hand knowledge, a two week delay would have been a quick fix. Unfortunately, the red tape nightmare that is NASA precludes anything from happening quickly, well, except for stopping a launch.
Actually, replacing the second stage nozzle is probably a lot quicker since it uses radiant cooling rather than having liquid cooling tubes. It’s just a piece of metal to bolt on.
They are proposing slicing a few inches off the bottom of the bell, saying they don’t need full ISP for this mission. Amazing.
“But the single engine on the first stage, while using the same powerhead, has a different nozzle, because it has a higher expansion ratio for vacuum operations.”
Typo alert! I believe you meant to say “… the single engine on the second stage, …”
It’s not even the second stage nozzle.. it’s the second stage nozzle *extension*.
Patrick, it makes sense to me. NASA is – or should be – always right at the very edge of the envelope, and SpaceX should be well back from that edge. That gives them plenty of margin for error (and ISP).
In reply to MlK – one day should they chosse to fly it in a chartered cargo aircraft…