Comments for Parabolic Arc http://www.parabolicarc.com Space Tourism ... and Much More Mon, 21 May 2012 08:37:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Marcus Zottl http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44239 Marcus Zottl Mon, 21 May 2012 08:37:43 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44239 @ jerry Imho your dripping sarcasm invalidates any good argument you may have had. Seriously, what exactly is your point? Those "amateurs" have done two static fires of the first stage engines (one at the cape, the other long before in Texas), both tests went fine and still they have been able to detect a possibly catastrophic fault before lift off and safely aborted the launch. If anything, this shows that they are way ahead of their competition regarding operations and processes, despite their hardware being less mature than what is flown on other vehicles (hint: most is decades old). @ jerry
Imho your dripping sarcasm invalidates any good argument you may have had.

Seriously, what exactly is your point? Those “amateurs” have done two static fires of the first stage engines (one at the cape, the other long before in Texas), both tests went fine and still they have been able to detect a possibly catastrophic fault before lift off and safely aborted the launch.

If anything, this shows that they are way ahead of their competition regarding operations and processes, despite their hardware being less mature than what is flown on other vehicles (hint: most is decades old).

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Jason http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44236 Jason Mon, 21 May 2012 04:14:03 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44236 SpaceX has not mentioned doing a static fire, and it is probably not necessary because the check valve was accepted beforehand. The last three seconds of the next count will serve as a static fire. SpaceX has not mentioned doing a static fire, and it is probably not necessary because the check valve was accepted beforehand. The last three seconds of the next count will serve as a static fire.

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by warshawski http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44227 warshawski Mon, 21 May 2012 00:52:16 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44227 Jason, I stand corrected I posted above before viewing the post scrub press conference. http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/video-post-scrub-launch-press-conference/ Gwynne was asked how long into the flight they could lose one or 2 engines and she did not have the answers but would get back. It would be interesting to know but it may well depend on the mission profile. I wonder if they will do another static fire to prove the engine repair? Anyone know the time required to do a static fire then prep for launch? Jason, I stand corrected I posted above before viewing the post scrub press conference.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/video-post-scrub-launch-press-conference/
Gwynne was asked how long into the flight they could lose one or 2 engines and she did not have the answers but would get back. It would be interesting to know but it may well depend on the mission profile.
I wonder if they will do another static fire to prove the engine repair? Anyone know the time required to do a static fire then prep for launch?

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Andy http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44217 Andy Sun, 20 May 2012 15:54:31 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44217 @JohnHunt Gwynne Shotwell mentions it in the post-scrub press conference. @JohnHunt Gwynne Shotwell mentions it in the post-scrub press conference.

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by JohnHunt http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44216 JohnHunt Sun, 20 May 2012 15:48:23 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44216 Jason, Do you have a hyperlink about that? Jason, Do you have a hyperlink about that?

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Jason http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44212 Jason Sun, 20 May 2012 12:18:20 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44212 Falcon 9 can't lose an engine right at launch, but it can lose two later in flight. Falcon 9 can’t lose an engine right at launch, but it can lose two later in flight.

]]> Comment on House to NASA: Down Select to Single Commercial Crew Competitor Immediately by Anonymous http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/04/25/house-to-nasa-down-select-to-single-commercial-crew-competitor-immediately/comment-page-1/#comment-44211 Anonymous Sun, 20 May 2012 11:12:08 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=37888#comment-44211 No they need to downselect it to zero competitors. If their reason to have only SLS. Or they can downselect it to ATK, that's great - same Ares I + Ares V (aka SLS). But think differently. If those companies really commercial, they can do everything by investors money until they'll deliver cargo/crew and have profit. Those money don't encourage innovation, cause with it SpaceX can use same hardware/technology as Boeing. Nor it doesn't create competition, cause small innovative companies, not for profit organizations or any nonAmericans was/will not compete (not enough NASA managers "connections") But all those COST/CCdev/etc contracts are really development subsidiaries, that makes one companies ahead of others. In any project 3 things - time, money, quality - you can't get it all. Now American wanna race it to return to LEO, so there will be 3 possibilities - low cost+high quality but very long, low cost low quality fast(SpaceX possible) or much more unrealistic high cost/high quality/fast(SaturnV). But guys in SLS will make much grandiouse scheme - high cost/low quality/long. ;0)))) No they need to downselect it to zero competitors. If their reason to have only SLS. Or they can downselect it to ATK, that’s great – same Ares I + Ares V (aka SLS).
But think differently. If those companies really commercial, they can do everything by investors money until they’ll deliver cargo/crew and have profit. Those money don’t encourage innovation, cause with it SpaceX can use same hardware/technology as Boeing. Nor it doesn’t create competition, cause small innovative companies, not for profit organizations or any nonAmericans was/will not compete (not enough NASA managers “connections”)
But all those COST/CCdev/etc contracts are really development subsidiaries, that makes one companies ahead of others. In any project 3 things – time, money, quality – you can’t get it all. Now American wanna race it to return to LEO, so there will be 3 possibilities – low cost+high quality but very long, low cost low quality fast(SpaceX possible) or much more unrealistic high cost/high quality/fast(SaturnV). But guys in SLS will make much grandiouse scheme – high cost/low quality/long. ;0))))

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Warshawski http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44210 Warshawski Sun, 20 May 2012 11:03:57 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44210 Although the abort is disapointing in that I like to see rockets fly, it does demonstrate the fundamentally safe practice of SpaceX with good sensors, real time computer analysis and Hold before launch. No one was hurt, the rocket is able to be fixed and in a very short time the data had an initial probable fault, verified by visual inspection and repair underway. With the engine out capability of Falcon 9 it would have been interesting to let it fly without engine 5 but with this test flight being so complex and ambitious I suppose everything has to be perfect prior to launch. Although the abort is disapointing in that I like to see rockets fly, it does demonstrate the fundamentally safe practice of SpaceX with good sensors, real time computer analysis and Hold before launch. No one was hurt, the rocket is able to be fixed and in a very short time the data had an initial probable fault, verified by visual inspection and repair underway.
With the engine out capability of Falcon 9 it would have been interesting to let it fly without engine 5 but with this test flight being so complex and ambitious I suppose everything has to be perfect prior to launch.

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by jerry http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44209 jerry Sun, 20 May 2012 09:40:24 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44209 Too bad the "rigorous inspection" didn't take place before the launch attempt. That shows a serious process failure. What if the problem had been detected seconds later, after take off ? mission would have completely failed. They have been lucky this time, but it doesn't seem they have learned the lesson. Otherwise, they would first get to the bottom of it, finding the faulty valve is one thing, finding why it's faulty and why they missed it, is another one. Seeing them rush to another attempt only a couple days later, only show those guys are amateurs in this business Too bad the “rigorous inspection” didn’t take place before the launch attempt. That shows a serious process failure.
What if the problem had been detected seconds later, after take off ? mission would have completely failed.
They have been lucky this time, but it doesn’t seem they have learned the lesson. Otherwise, they would first get to the bottom of it, finding the faulty valve is one thing, finding why it’s faulty and why they missed it, is another one.
Seeing them rush to another attempt only a couple days later, only show those guys are amateurs in this business

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Brian http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44144 Brian Sun, 20 May 2012 02:45:11 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44144 LOL. You should probably wait until SpaceX gets this thing off the ground in one piece before patting them on the back. LOL. You should probably wait until SpaceX gets this thing off the ground in one piece before patting them on the back.

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Andy http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44142 Andy Sun, 20 May 2012 01:28:58 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44142 I've spent a lot longer than a few a hours trying to troubleshoot far less complicated problems than spaceship. The time it took them to figure out their anomaly is really really really impressive. Way to go, SpaceX engineers! I’ve spent a lot longer than a few a hours trying to troubleshoot far less complicated problems than spaceship. The time it took them to figure out their anomaly is really really really impressive. Way to go, SpaceX engineers!

]]> Comment on SpaceX Identifies Falcon 9 Problem, Hopes for Tuesday Launch by Ron Davis http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/spacex-identifies-falcon-9-problem-could-launch-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-44139 Ron Davis Sat, 19 May 2012 23:08:09 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38960#comment-44139 I love good trouble shooting. I especially like to see good access through sensors that provide complete analysis during operation. Finally good physical access means proper engineering. These guys must be doing it right to be this quick. Love It. I love good trouble shooting. I especially like to see good access through sensors that provide complete analysis during operation. Finally good physical access means proper engineering. These guys must be doing it right to be this quick. Love It.

]]> Comment on Falcon 9 Suffers Abort Just Prior to Liftoff by Geoff T http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/19/falcon-9-suffers-abort-just-prior-to-liftoff/comment-page-1/#comment-44128 Geoff T Sat, 19 May 2012 13:32:14 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38928#comment-44128 Seeing all the usual whining and jeers against the launch abort in the comments section of several news websites by the general public, but if anything doesn't this just prove the benefits of SpaceX and liquid rockets over solids such as Liberty? You couldn't really abort a Liberty launch once that SRB has ignited. Seeing all the usual whining and jeers against the launch abort in the comments section of several news websites by the general public, but if anything doesn’t this just prove the benefits of SpaceX and liquid rockets over solids such as Liberty? You couldn’t really abort a Liberty launch once that SRB has ignited.

]]> Comment on Virgin Galactic Pilot Flies WhiteKnightTwo on 80th Flight by amanda deng http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/17/virgin-galactic-pilot-flies-whiteknighttwo-on-80th-flight/comment-page-1/#comment-44119 amanda deng Sat, 19 May 2012 01:28:11 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38847#comment-44119 Makes sense. The x-15 had a less powerful engine before the xlr-99 was installed and drivibg it to the speed record. They are definitely not wasting fuel on the wk2 flights. Patience! :) better safe than sorry Makes sense. The x-15 had a less powerful engine before the xlr-99 was installed and drivibg it to the speed record. They are definitely not wasting fuel on the wk2 flights. Patience! :) better safe than sorry

]]> Comment on Virgin Galactic Pilot Flies WhiteKnightTwo on 80th Flight by Doug Messier http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/17/virgin-galactic-pilot-flies-whiteknighttwo-on-80th-flight/comment-page-1/#comment-44114 Doug Messier Fri, 18 May 2012 16:22:09 +0000 http://www.parabolicarc.com/?p=38847#comment-44114 Virgin CEO George Whitesides recently said they would start flying at the end of the year with a "starter motor." This is a smaller version of the full engine that will allow them to explore the powered flight envelope. He added that the company hopes to be able to fly tourists by the end of 2013. Whether that's realistic...I don't know. We'll see how things progress with the powered flights and the continued large hybrid testing. Virgin CEO George Whitesides recently said they would start flying at the end of the year with a “starter motor.” This is a smaller version of the full engine that will allow them to explore the powered flight envelope. He added that the company hopes to be able to fly tourists by the end of 2013. Whether that’s realistic…I don’t know. We’ll see how things progress with the powered flights and the continued large hybrid testing.

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