Sturgeon Posted September 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/775715783498428416 SpaceX hoping for November return to flight (dubious IMO). Also, as far as I know, the September 27th reveal on MCT is still go. In other news, Robert Zubrin has AOL pinned to his taskbar; https://twitter.com/robert_zubrin/status/775365975034114049 Just one more black mark on his record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 I want to believe. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/776939304140414976?s=09 Belesarius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Article about DPRK rocket engine; http://38north.org/2016/09/jschilling092116/ tl;dr UDMH/NTO, and almost certainly too big for an ICBM. Sturgeon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belesarius Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 http://spaceflight101.com/spacex-completes-first-test-firing-of-raptor-interplanetary-transport-engine/#.V-kGV_Fk6D4.facebook SpaceX tested the Raptor engine. I'll let the tech minded folks/KSP nerds do commentary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collimatrix Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 http://spaceflight101.com/spacex-completes-first-test-firing-of-raptor-interplanetary-transport-engine/#.V-kGV_Fk6D4.facebook SpaceX tested the Raptor engine. I'll let the tech minded folks/KSP nerds do commentary. This one is different because it's more focused on efficiency than their previous designs. The merlin engine is open cycle LOX/kerosene, which is a good choice for getting off the ground and into space. Open cycle is simpler and lighter, but loses a bit of efficiency. LOX/kerosene is a compromise between good efficiency and good thrust. Getting off the ground requires excellent thrust to weight ratio because of that hateful gravity nonsense, so efficiency can come in second place. LOX/kerosene is also a bit less of a PITA to deal with than LOX/hydrogen because only the oxidizer needs to be kept at cryogenic temperatures. Liquid propellants that can be stored at room temperature, like the ones the Chinese just used on their recent launch, are horrifyingly toxic, while LOX/kerosene is pretty benign. Obviously, things can still go wrong and explode. This new stage uses staged combustion and LOX/CH4, which is AFAIK is a new propellant combination. On paper it's less efficient than LOX/hydrogen, but more efficient than LOX/kerosene. Liquid CH4 should be less of a PITA to store than liquid hydrogen. Also, liquid CH4 is much denser than liquid hydrogen, which will reduce the size of the fuel tank and thus the drag when taking off through the atmosphere. Their LOX/CH4 rocket will probably have an inferior thrust to weight ratio compared to their current LOX/kerosene, but that's OK; it's an upper stage for when the vehicle is already in orbit, so high thrust isn't needed as much and efficiency is paramount. Belesarius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belesarius Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Also, am I the only one who is fucking sperging out over the fact that we just fucking tested an INTERPLANETARY engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Also, am I the only one who is fucking sperging out over the fact that we just fucking tested an INTERPLANETARY engine? We did back in the 60s, but EVIL RADIATION. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted September 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Is there anything that makes Raptor especially "interplanetary", or is that just how Musk plans to use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 I think it's mainly that it's going on the MCT/BFR. It looks like it would be a good second stage engine in addition to its utility as an Earth-orbit ejection motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoooSeR Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 Looks like Angara-A5V parts/design will be used for new super-heavy rocket. http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/bitrix/components/bitrix/forum.interface/show_file.php?fid=65627 LostCosmonaut and Sturgeon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted September 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 Those 4-engine boosters: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khand-e Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 Not sure if it belongs here as it's technically not in space but only looking for things in it, but China's "FAST" radio telescope, the largest of it's kind in the world just entered operational status as of 2 days ago. (confirmed now.) Mostly testing now though. http://phys.org/news/2016-09-china-world-largest-radio-telescope.html LostCosmonaut 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 127.8 fucking meganewtons Edit: Apparently in fully expendable mode it can put 500 tons in LEO. Edit: have a fuel tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted September 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 127.8 fucking meganewtons Edit: Apparently in fully expendable mode it can put 500 tons in LEO. Edit: have a fuel tank So I guess this means Elon Musk does not buy into the idea that you "only" need 50t LEO launch capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted September 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted September 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Pretty solid article from Jalopnik on what could be improved in Musk's ITS: http://jalopnik.com/heres-how-to-fix-the-big-problems-with-elon-musks-mars-1787163420/amp Toxn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted October 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 Scott Manley does a very good job explaining staged combustion close cycle engines: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 We're not built for space travel, vol XVII: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep34774 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoooSeR Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Blue Origin tested their New Shepard missile crew capsule ejection system, it worked pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belesarius Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Antares going up Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Robert Zubrin on Elon Musk's Mars Plan Seems alright at first, but goes off the rails toward the end talking about spaceplanes and "Mars has no resources today, but will have unlimited resources once there are people there to create them." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostCosmonaut Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Europe's latest probe made it to Mars (in pieces)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted October 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 That was not nearly as shit as I expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoooSeR Posted November 9, 2016 Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 Russian cosmonauts, ISS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted November 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 Am I the only person who thinks these Fermi paradox discussions are seriously missing something? My inclination is to think that arguing that aliens don't exist because we haven't found any evidence of them yet is sort of like arguing that because you've been searching for two hours for your car keys that keys must have never been invented. Donward and LoooSeR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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