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Post #1001
That makes sense. Which leads to something else, what were the Soviets thinking when they built the N1?
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Engine out capability is very important in any cluster, but the idea is, say your engines have a failure rate of around 1 in 10, would you rather have 30 engines or 5 engines? It's like playing the lottery in reverse, the aim is to buy fewer tickets. It's just a matter of risk management. Not safety risks, I mean financial risks.
Remember that SpaceX has to approach spaceflight from an economic perspective.
It wasn't so much a matter of design choice, they were working with what was available, and there were many reasons it failed. We had something like a 5 year head start with the F-1 by the time the N1 ever came up in discussion. By then there was no time nor money to develop a new large engine for the N1. Rather than using toxic hypergolic fuels to reduce combustion complexity, they opted for a mix that while safer for people to handle, increases plumbing complexity in the fuel system (an already complex plumbing system made to support 30 engines) and caused a major argument between designers. The engines themselves were decided upon after much argumentative debate and lobbying between competing interests within the rocket bureaus, and after the leading engine designer in the soviet union eventually refused to work on the project due to these arguments.
They were forced to use a new very small engine, produced in a very short time by a jet engine manufacturer with little experience in rocketry, and even though it was an amazing engine with an incredibly high reliability rate, because there needed to be so many functioning engines during the flight, the reliability just never got high enough to actually work.
So while the NK-15 is probably more reliable than the F-1, you're launching 30 NK-15s at a time as opposed to only 5 F-1s.
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Just found out this morning that my grandfather who worked as a programmer on the Apollo missions passed away. He was one of the largest reasons why I love space as I do now, and it makes me sad that now I wont ever hear any of his stories while he was working at NASA again.
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You should take his place when you get older.
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I hate the news.
"SpaceX launches it's commercial rocket to the ISS tomorrow! What's it mean for Obama? More at 11"
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Lol, the media.
Anyways, here she is, ready for the launch tomorrow:
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Scheduled for launch at 8:55 UCT
That's 9:55 British Summer Time! Rocket launch and cornflakes, the best kind of breakfast.
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Reminds me of that one My Three Sons episode were everyone is trying to get ready for school/work while the television is voicing over a rocket launch (And coincidentally their actions
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Neil DeGrasse Tyson on the morning show today:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?...cbsthismorning
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Seems more positive towards private spaceflight now than I've seen him before.
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May be late but I just saw this:
Edited:
Next Falcon 9 being built:
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Is there going to be a livestream of it? it'll only be 2 in the morning for me, so thats not too bad to watch it live
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Yeah the livestream will be the same as it was for the static fire.
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http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
one hour 20 minutes till it begins.
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Seven minutes, guys.
ohboyohboyohboy
The time the webcast starts, I mean. Not necessarily the launch.
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https://twitter.com/#!/elonmusk/stat.../photo/1/large
Mr.Musk is at his helm.
Edited:
In related news, SpaceX has a good taste in holding music.
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Yessssssssssss
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She looks so beautiful on the launch pad with those lights...
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I was thinking the exact same thing, haha.
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The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.
August 2008
11,800 Posts
Excited!
Edited:
Why am I not surprised?
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Woo!
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The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.
August 2008
11,800 Posts
Needs space music!
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T - 13:30 now.
Still go for launch!
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OSM station took a little long to confirm they're ready. COMMENCE PARANOIA.
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Less than 10 minutes to go. Things are looking clear.
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OSM guy took a little longer than expected in the bathroom.
"Guys, I'm back. Did I miss anyth- oh, uh, OSM, check."
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Oh god, I just imagined a guy in a SpaceX polo sprinting across a white hallway with shit running down his legs.
Edited:
Oh fuck oh fuck T-1 minute here we go lads.
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The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.
August 2008
11,800 Posts
One minute guys, hurry to the livestream if you haven't already.
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There she goes!
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Fuck.
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Aw hell.
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What the fuck was that
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Welp.
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The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.
August 2008
11,800 Posts
Damnit
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Well crap.
I blame the OSM station.
I love how a post says "Here we go", followed by streams of disappointment.
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I wonder what could have gone wrong?
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Maybe they left the parking brakes on.
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Apparently the flight computer failed to start.
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"Abort on engine 5"
Edited:
Well, looks like I have another all-nighter to look forward to on the 22nd...
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Right, high pressure problem in engine 5.
Informative x 1
Friendly x 14
Agree x 4
Funny x 3
Winner x 8
