Reusing Boosters: Launch, Land, and Re-Launch

[ilovemycoffee]

The Japanese have tried this recently: ‘Gundam’ anime mirrored in safer spacecraft re-entry method：The Asahi Shimbun

Now all we need are Gundams and space colonies

 

[ecarfan]

Whoa! A “giant party balloon” that “retains its shape” when hyper/super/sub-sonic? (Isn’t that what “all Mach regimes” means?) Is the stage fully enclosed in this “object”? How can it survive atmospheric heating?

It sounds crazy. But Elon doesn’t do crazy. This is going to be very interesting...

 

[Grendal]

The balloon thingy will not happen on the TESS launch. Elon's e-mail timing gives that impression. The TESS second stage will be sent into a heliocentric orbit.

Elon: "Yeah, but great for creating a giant object that retains its shape across all Mach regimes & drops ballistic coefficient by 2 orders of magnitude."

Here is what he may be talking about - A ballute:

 

[ecarfan]

The balloon thingy will not happen on the TESS launch. Elon's e-mail timing gives that impression

Yes I understand that. But he is talking about trying to recover the 2nd stage using this new device. And I’m trying to understand how it would work. Thanks for the video link!

 

[Grendal]

Read through Chris G.'s twitter account and it seems that Elon is answering questions from reporters about Block 5, reusability, and future plans,

Chris G - NSF (@ChrisG_NSF) | Twitter

Same thing with Eric Berger's twitter account:

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) | Twitter

Lots of details that will come in full blown articles in the next few days.

Everyday Astronaut (since the launch is delayed) is doing a running commentary on Elon's answers and what they might mean.

 

[Grendal]

Here is the audio (not great) of the phone conference:

 

[ecarfan]

I listened to that call. I think I got most of it but wish I could have been able to understand every word because there was so much great information! I am sure that Eric Berger at ars techica, Loren Grush at The Verge, and others, will be publishing their impressions.

A “rotating fleet” of 30 to 50 F9 vehicles flying well over 300 missions before retirement; 24 hour turnaround goal, the goal of 2nd recoveries; wow!

 

[Grendal]

I listened to that call. I think I got most of it but wish I could have been able to understand every word because there was so much great information! I am sure that Eric Berger at ars techica, Loren Grush at The Verge, and others, will be publishing their impressions.

A “rotating fleet” of 30 to 50 F9 vehicles flying well over 300 missions before retirement; 24 hour turnaround goal, the goal of 2nd recoveries; wow!

You ask, and here it is: A transcript of yesterday's call:
Block 5 Phone Presser

 

[ecarfan]

You ask, and here it is: A transcript of yesterday's call:
Block 5 Phone Presser

Thanks! I am devouring all that new info, some of which is quite startling. Maybe we need a separate dedicated Block 5 thread. Will check to see if there is one before posting more.

Edit: it turns out there is a thread about F9 Block versions, and I started it. I forgot. See SpaceX v1.2 (FT) Core Discussion - Block 3, 4, and 5

 

[Grendal]

Infographic from Reddit about recoveries.
SpaceX Recovery History Pre-Block 5 [Graphic] • r/SpaceXLounge

 

[ecarfan]

Very informative graphic, thanks. The “recovery precluded” phrase made me laugh.

 

[miimura]

Very informative graphic, thanks. The “recovery precluded” phrase made me laugh.

The chosen symbol that goes with that label made me chuckle too.

 

[Electroman]

Thats a fantastic graphic.

I am sorry I don't quite get it - what exactly is 'precluded recovery' ?

 

[ecarfan]

what exactly is 'precluded recovery' ?

That mission had a RUD (Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly) so there was no booster to recover.

 

[Grendal]

Looks like it's finally happening West Coasters! RTLS for Vandenberg will finally be happening. Sometime in September-ish...

SpaceX files for a permit with the FCC to enable an RTLS at Vandenberg Air Force Base for a mission NET September 2018. The mission is not yet known but is most likely SAOCOM 1A.

I'll post the details as the launch date for that launch firms up.
Michael Baylor on Twitter

An aside: B1050 has been spotted on the way to McGregor. B1050 is the fifth Block 5 booster. We'll be seeing a lot of launches and landings coming soon...

 

[ecarfan]

That would be great if the first Vandenburg RTLS was in early September! I’m going to see it.

“SpaceX files for a permit with the FCC to enable an RTLS at Vandenberg Air Force Base for a mission NET September 2018. The mission is not yet known but is most likely SAOCOM 1A.”

When I first read that I thought “Doesn’t the FAA issue launch permits, not the FCC?” Then I went to the link in the Twitter post you are quoting and see that the FCC is indeed involved.

OET Special Temporary Authority Report

Quote from the application: “This request is limited to the brief command uplink from a ground antenna at the landing site to the launch vehicle after landing.”

I wonder if that transmission is related to the procedure for safeing the stage after touchdown.

 

[Grendal]

OET Special Temporary Authority Report

Quote from the application: “This request is limited to the brief command uplink from a ground antenna at the landing site to the launch vehicle after landing.”

I wonder if that transmission is related to the procedure for safeing the stage after touchdown.

The quote certainly implies that. Information is constantly flowing back and forth from the rocket as it's flying. SpaceX would want to remain in communication with the booster even after it has touched down. Safing the rocket would definitely be one of those steps.

 

[Electroman]

“Safing” - word of the day

 

[ecarfan]

“Safing” - word of the day

And by the way, @Grendal spelled that word correctly (as did you) and I spelled it incorrectly. First time I had ever typed that word.

 

[Grendal]

And by the way, @Grendal spelled that word correctly (as did you) and I spelled it incorrectly. First time I had ever typed that word.

I used google to spellcheck the word. It was new to me too but the spelling rules and maybe reading the word somewhere gave me a hint to check. ;-)