All Questions
38
questions
0
votes
1
answer
135
views
Why does SpaceX's integrated booster test not attempt to relight the second stage engines
Starting an engine in a vacuum under microgravity conditions is really difficult to test on Earth. Why isn't the first stage test being used to gather data for this?
- 693
24
votes
4
answers
8k
views
What is SpaceX doing differently with Starship to avoid it exploding like the N1?
Both Starship and the N1 have more than 30 rocket engines. The N1 exploded after having a chain reaction from a failed engine.
N1 rocket engines:
Starship’s rocket engines:
Unlike the N1, SpaceX has ...
- 5,884
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
How to test vaccum engines at sea level? [duplicate]
SpaceX is testing its Raptor vacuum engine (RVAC) at sea level (without any facility that can simulate near vacuum conditions). How can they do this without flow separation happening?
- 93
11
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What is a rocket engine spin up test?
Recently I came across internet about SpaceX's Booster 7 explosion in a ball of fire during an engine spin up test. I searched Google about rocket engine spin up test but I got no hit. What is a ...
- 1,175
2
votes
0
answers
130
views
How unusual is it to test vacuum engines at sea level?
How are vacuum optimized engines tested without disintegrating them? is an excellent question as it's attracted quite a number of informative and diverse answers.
@Uwe's answer informs us that there ...
- 149k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Static Fire Tests: How is the rocket prevented from flying?
In rockets like Starship, if 35 Raptors are firing at same time, then in a full-duration static fire test there would be enormous loads being exerted from 35 raptors, on the clamps holding the rocket. ...
- 373
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
Any large scale rocket static fires, like SpaceX's 3 in one day?
SpaceX on Jan 13, 2021 did three static fires in one day.
Elon Musk tweeted:
All three static fires completed & no RUDs!
And that was in response to this tweet of his own:
Today at SpaceX is ...
- 80k
26
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Why was the SpaceX abort test not initiated by real booster failure?
Today (2020-01-19) SpaceX had a successful flight abort test. As far as I can understand, at a specific altitude, Crew Dragon fired its engines and escaped from the rocket.
This test looks like a ...
- 835
11
votes
1
answer
752
views
Why did the SpaceX Starship MK1 prototype pop?
During a pressurization test on November 20th, 2019, SpaceX's Starship MK1 prototype "popped" at the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica TX.
Do we know what caused this apparent failure? Some claim that ...
- 19.6k
2
votes
1
answer
157
views
Could Spacex build a starhopper (starship prototype) at Vandenburg, CA launch site?
I know Spacex is building a starhopper (starship prototype) in Texas and Florida. Could they also build a starhopper prototype at the Vandenburg, CA launch complex? I know Vandenburg is better for ...
- 157
3
votes
1
answer
282
views
For the Starhopper testing, how will SpaceX hold down the vehicle?
SpaceX is testing the Raptor engine on the Starhopper they built in Boca Chica.
For static fires of a Falcon 9/Heavy they use the pad itself, the holddowns to the pad, to keep it from taking off.
...
- 80k
8
votes
2
answers
693
views
Progress of the raptor engine
I have seen that SpaceX has tested a scaled down version of the raptor, but that was about a year ago. Does anyone know the current progress? Do they have a full scale model? Have they hot fired a ...
- 4,904
33
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Why is there any launch window at all for the Falcon Heavy test flight?
Why is the window only ~3 hours long, why not 2? why not 5? why not "until it launches"? I'm guessing range safety, they could only get a TFR that long?
- 600
13
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Will the January 2018 government shutdown affect the Falcon Heavy launch?
The Falcon Heavy is currently undergoing testing at Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A, which SpaceX is leasing from NASA. The hold-down test firing, according to the previously-linked article, may occur ...
- 2,549
7
votes
2
answers
753
views
What will the Falcon Heavy maiden flight launch as its payload?
I know that Elon Musk has stated that SpaceX will try to launch the "silliest thing imaginable" on the maiden flight of the Falcon Heavy, but will it be a Dragon capsule on top or a special SpaceX ...
- 4,295