SpaceX Falcon 9

[fagot]

Вот этот движок стоит 10 американских лямов в контрактных ценах 2008 года. Столько же Пратт платил за РД-180 пару лет назад(сейчас может и больше, но не намного). Подобные CF6 двигатели от Пратта, РолсРойса и от GE продаются тиражами в сотни экземпляров каждый год. А вот ради полусотни двигателей на двадцать лет(или даже сотни), свою програму Пратт городить не захотел. А Локхид, ну вобщем ворон ворону глаз не выклюет. То есть Локхид покупает РД-180 у Пратта. А Пратт у России согласно эксклюзивного контракта. Делает "сертификацию" и продает с наценкой.

Зато Рокитдайн городить захотел, но ему не дали, так как получалось дороже, чем РД-180, который к тому же позволял получить некоторые новые технологии. Пратт-Уиттни же керосинками не занимался и ЖРД нижних ступеней не разрабатывал, поэтому тут с Рокитдайном ему было бы проблематично самостоятельно конкурировать, что правда не помешало впоследствии Рокитдайн купить.

Ну и чтобы вообще, вместо Пратт следует читать United Technologies Corporation. А вместо Локхид - United Launch Alliance. Причем ежегодный доход UTC составляет 50+ гигабаксов. Так что единственный гигабакс за сотню РД-180 разбросанный на два десятилетия, для них копейки. Да еще с учетом того, что Пратт все одно в доле прибыли, наценка за сертификацию РД-180 и так далее. Вот и леняться.

Вы еще на фоне американского ВВП посчитайте или что-нибудь в этом роде. "Копейки" они как раз очень даже считать умеют, иначе Локхид выбрал бы отечественный двигатель, да и для его ракетного подразделения вполне заметная сумма получается. ULA во времена разработки Атласа-5 не было и он тут совсем ни при чем.

[Ну-и-ну]

Обновился launch manifest. На 2010 уехало три пуска. Всего на 2009 осталось 3 Ф9 и 1 Ф1:
Falcon 9 Maiden Flight           Falcon 9
ATSB (Malaysia)                   Falcon 1
NASA COTS – Demo 1          F9/Dragon
Avanti Communications (UK) Falcon 9

По прежнему, даты - по времени доставки на космодром.

Что характерно, Малайзийский спутник - единственный оставшийся полёт Ф1. Далее - только Ф1е.

[KBOB]

Объявили конкурс на лучший эксперимент в условиях микрогравитации, победитель будет объявлен 18 апреля 2009г, получит 25 тыс. баксов и билет на второй полет SpaceX Dragon spacecraft (в оба конца), запланированый на ноябрь 2009г.
Самому экспериментатору, я думаю можно не лететь, а отправить только исследовательскую аппаратуру.
условия конкурса

а какже конкурс на лучший эксперимент в условиях микрогравитации!!

[KBOB]

Загордились изобретением какогото супер-мупер теплозащитного покрытия (PICA-X high performance heat shield material).

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223

[Ну-и-ну]

Не надо так "переводить", пожалуйста.

[ronatu]

Загордились изобретением какогото супер-п[/size]упер теплозащитного покрытия (PICA-X high performance heat shield material).

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223

PICA - Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator

Dragon will be the first craft to return from Low Earth Orbit using a PICA-based thermal protection system. :wink:

[Salo]

Помнится мне фенольная пропитка была у ВА ТКС. Вот только углеродного волокна там не использовали, по-моему.

[mrvyrsky]

Давайте открытым текстом . Компания СпейсЭкс была открыта летом 2002 года, и с тех пор успела разработать и запустить несколько раз - один раз успешно - РН лёгкого класса. Без начальных технологических наработок, т.е. задела.

Злые языки говорят, что задел был. Тем более, что в компанию ушел ряд спецов из грандов ракетостроения.

Интересно, а чего им в Локхиде/Боинге не работалось?  Тож наверное генералы достали .

Я слышал не про Боинг\Локхид, а про Си Лонч. Типа кто-то большой оттуда к Маску подался. Насколько правда - не ведаю. Хотя... Си Лонч это тоже Боинг  :lol:

[RadioactiveRainbow]

На когда намечен ближайший пуск Ф-9? На сайте только год указан )

[Lerm]

Я слышал не про Боинг\Локхид, а про Си Лонч. Типа кто-то большой оттуда к Маску подался. Насколько правда - не ведаю. Хотя... Си Лонч это тоже Боинг  :lol:

Из Sea Launch в SpaceX приходил Jim Maser. В марте 2006 он перешел в SpaceX из Sea Launch, а уже в декабре ушел в Pratt & Whitney (где стал директором P&W Rocketdyne).
А так можно посмотреть на руководящий состав SpaceX. Ссылка: SpaceX People.

Gwynne Shotwell (President)
... Her experience prior to SpaceX includes over ten years at the Aerospace Corporation where she held positions of increasing responsibility in Space Systems Engineering and Technology and Project Management.

Tom Mueller (Vice President of Proplusion Development)
... Before being recruited to SpaceX, Mr. Mueller spent 14 years at TRW where he ran the Propulsion and Combustion Products Department, responsible for all liquid rocket engine activities.

Chris Thompson (Vise President of Structures)
.. He started his career in the Marine Corps before joining McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he successfully managed production of the Delta II, III, and IV, and Titan IV launch vehicles. Mr. Thompson has over 20 years cumulative experience in production and test operations on launch vehicles, spacecraft and aircraft.
Shortly before joining SpaceX, Chris was given responsibility for all Test and Verification activities at the Boeing Huntington Beach Engineering Labs, which supports all development and qualification tests on Delta II, III, and IV, Titan IV, and Space Station. The T&V activities ranged from structural, dynamic, space simulation, material and mechanical properties, and complete system tests at Huntington Beach and various government test facilities.
Mr. Thompson has also worked Delta II launch operations at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base.  He also managed the precision inspection, non-destructive test, and Shuttle cryogenic test departments during his tenure at Huntington Beach. He completed an AP at Embry-Riddle/Chapman University and attended Cal State Long Beach for a BS in Aerospace Engineering.

Dr. Hans Koenigsmann (Vice President Chief Engineer of Avionics, Guidance & Control)
... Dr. Koenigsmann has served as head of the Space Technology Division of Germany's Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen. In that role, he was responsible for the development and operation of the satellite BREMSAT.
Dr. Koenigsmann then worked for Microcosm as a Chief Scientist and a Flight Systems Manager for their Scorpius sub-orbital launch vehicles, where he led a team that developed the vehicle's avionics, guidance and control systems, as well as supported the thrust vector control development.

Dr. Jeff Ward (Vice President of Avionics, Guidance & Control)
... Prior to joining SpaceX, Dr. Ward served as Managing Director of innovative British satellite developers Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). At SSTL, he directed 26 satellite missions, including SSTL's first mission for the European Space Agency. He led the company in 29% average annual turnover growth from ?5m to ?21m with consistent increases in profitability. His nearly 20 year career at SSTL also included positions as Team Leader, Project Manager and Technical Director.

Tim Buzza (Vice President of Launch Operations)
... Prior to joining SpaceX, Mr. Buzza was the test project manager for Boeing's Delta IV 1st Stage. His experience includes structural testing of the LH2 and LOX tanks, engine section, Interstage and nosecone, as well as analysis and verification of the booster and stage separation systems. Mr. Buzza was responsible for the schedule and budget for 23 major tests with a total budget of $100 million.
Mr. Buzza has over 14 years of test experience in the aerospace industry ranging from aircraft systems testing (fuel, hydraulics, and environmental) to stage development of a medium to heavy payload rocket.

Robert Reagan (Vice President of Manufacturing)
... Before joining SpaceX, Mr. Reagan is most noted for being a key founding executive of Certified Fabricator, Inc., where he was responsible for building and running the manufacturing operations. Certified is acknowledged to be one of the leading outsourced manufacturing companies in North America. In particular, during his tenure at Certified, Mr. Reagan oversaw construction of several critical sub-components of the International Space Station and tooling assemblies for construction of the Space Shuttle External Tank.

Lawrence Williams (Vice President of Strategic Relations)
... Prior to Space X, he served as Senior Vice President for Business Development for the satellite communications company ICO Global Communications and Vice President of International and Government Affairs for Teledesic Corporation. His government experience includes having served as a special assistant to the administrator of the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a member of the Presidential transition team for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Ray Thornton on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Ray Amador (Director of Structural Dynamics)
... Prior to joining SpaceX, Mr. Amador was a Sr. Scientist at the Hughes Aircraft Company, responsible for structural dynamics, stress and thermal analyses, and testing of spacecraft. While at Hughes, Mr. Amador performed trajectory simulation of Titan-launched spacecraft, and was responsible for the prediction of vibration, shock and acoustic environments for spacecraft and missiles. Spacecraft experience includes: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Intelsat IV, Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Probe, LANDSAT, GOES, and Shuttle Orbiter Ku-Band Radar. Launch vehicle experience includes Delta 2914, Titan II-IV, Small ICBM, and STS. Mr. Amador has designed shock and vibration isolation systems and is an expert in composite structures, high-frequency jitter and cryogenic analyses for orbiting, electro-optical, telescopes. At MSC Software, Mr. Amador was responsible for Integration and Engineering Services in North America. He was responsible for delivering multi-million dollar, engineering software integration contracts at Boeing, Lockheed, Cooper Tires, Caterpillar Tractor and American Bureau of Shipping.

Jeff Richichi (Director of Structural Design)
... With over 20 years experience in the optimization of structures, Mr. Richichi has worked on projects as diverse as the Gulfstream V, a race winning Indy Car and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Prior to joining SpaceX, he was one a handful of people outside NASA with Stress Signature Authority, authorizing him to sign off on the structural integrity of man-rated components and assemblies before they were launched into space.

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/launch/index.shtml

June: Target Date TBD.
Falcon 9
Launch Time: TBD
Launch Window: TBD
Launch Complex: 40 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Mission: The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on its inaugural mission, a demonstration flight.

[Ну-и-ну]

SpaceX гордо отчитался о проведении первого "полного" прожига высотной версии Мерлина.

Из чего следуют интересные мысли про тот Ф9, который 30 декабря на космодроме собрали.

[Андрей Суворов]

Там же написано было, что вторая ступень без высотного сопла. Этого никто и не скрывал.

[Ну-и-ну]

Спасибо.

[Salo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=9958.2745

NUAETIUS  03/10/2009 06:55 PM
Successful SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage engine test
from RLV and Space Transport News

A new announcement from SpaceX (See also the new video tour of the engine test facility):

SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Engine Successfully Completes Full Mission Duration Firing
New Merlin Vacuum engine demonstrates highest efficiency for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine

McGregor, Texas (March 09, 2009) – Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) successfully conducted a full mission duration firing of its new Merlin Vacuum engine on March 7, at SpaceX's Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. The engine fired for a full six minutes, consuming 100,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene propellant.

The new engine, which powers the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle, demonstrated a vacuum specific impulse of 342 seconds – the highest efficiency ever for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine. Thrust was measured at approximately 92,500 lb of force in vacuum conditions and the engine remained thermally stable over the entire run.

"Specific impulse, or Isp, indicates how efficiently a rocket engine converts propellant into thrust," said Tom Mueller, Vice President of Propulsion for SpaceX. "With a vacuum Isp of 342 seconds, the new Merlin Vacuum engine has exceeded our requirements, setting a new standard for American hydrocarbon engine performance in space."

Based on the Merlin 1C engine that boosted the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket to orbit in 2008, the Merlin Vacuum engine uses a regeneratively cooled combustion chamber. However, the vacuum engine features a larger exhaust section than the Merlin 1C and a much larger radiatively cooled expansion nozzle, in order to maximize performance in the vacuum of space.

The Merlin Vacuum engine provides the final push that delivers customer spacecraft into their desired orbits. A redundant ignition system ensures the engine can shut down and restart multiple times. The engine can also operate at a reduced thrust to achieve optimum performance. During recent tests, the engine was successfully throttled down to 75 percent of maximum thrust, and upcoming tests will demonstrate throttling to approximately 60 percent of maximum thrust.

"Falcon 9 was designed from the ground up to provide our customers with breakthrough advances in reliability," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "In successfully adapting our flight tested first stage engine for use on the second stage, this recent test further validates the architecture of Falcon 9, designed to provide customers with high reliability at a fraction of traditional costs."

SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft were recently selected by NASA to resupply cargo to the International Space Station after the shuttle retires in 2010. The inaugural flight of Falcon 9 is scheduled for later this year from SpaceX's launch pad SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is revolutionizing access to space by developing a family of launch vehicles and spacecraft intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With its Falcon line of launch vehicles, powered by internally-developed Merlin engines, SpaceX offers light, medium and heavy lift capabilities to deliver spacecraft into any altitude and inclination, from low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous to planetary missions. On September 28, 2008, Falcon 1, designed and manufactured from the ground up by SpaceX, became the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to orbit the Earth, demonstrating that through simplicity, both reliability and low cost can be achieved in commercial spaceflight.

As a winner of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition (COTS), SpaceX will conduct three flights of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, culminating in Dragon berthing with the ISS. SpaceX is the only COTS contender that has the capability to return cargo and crew to Earth. NASA also has an option to demonstrate crew transportation services to the ISS using the Falcon 9 / Dragon system.

In September 2008, NASA selected the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft for the International Space Station Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) contract award. The $1.6 billion contract includes 12 flights between 2010 and 2015, with a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kg to be carried to the International Space Station.

Founded in 2002, the SpaceX team now numbers more than 620 full time employees, primarily located in Hawthorne, California, with additional locations in Texas, at SpaceX's Test Facility in McGregor near Waco; offices in Washington DC; and launch facilities at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and the Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific.

A new video tour of SpaceX's Texas Test Site conducted by Tom Mueller, VP of Propulsion can be viewed at:

http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=38&cat=recent

via Space transport news

[Salo]

jongoff
WWW  Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Today at 03:50 AM »  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from: edkyle99 on Today at 02:11 AM

I have a question though. How can SpaceX claim a vacuum specific impulse number without having burned the engine on a high altitude test stand?  The press release photo doesn't even appear to show the nozzle extension attached.

My guess is that since you can measure the C* and Cf numbers without the extension, you can model the impact of the extension.  Remember, this isn't their first vacuum engine with a big niobium extension.  They have flight data from Kestral to help validate their models.  So, while they can't say they have a demonstrated 342s Isp, I think they can say with some confidence that that is what it will be when they put the nozzle on.

AIUI, they don't actually have access to a facility big enough to test a ~95klbf vacuum nozzle.  There's only a few in the nation, and most of those are either tied up right now with J-2X, or prohibitively expensive.   Is it a bit of a gamble?  Yes.  But in some ways less of a gamble than Kestrel (though in other ways more of a gamble).

~Jon

[Salo]

http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=27727

SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Engine Successfully Completes Full Mission Duration Firing  

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) successfully conducted a full mission duration firing of its new Merlin Vacuum engine on March 7, at SpaceX's Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. The engine fired for a full six minutes, consuming 100,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene propellant.

The new engine, which powers the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle, demonstrated a vacuum specific impulse of 342 seconds - the highest efficiency ever for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine. Thrust was measured at approximately 92,500 lb of force in vacuum conditions and the engine remained thermally stable over the entire run.

"Specific impulse, or Isp, indicates how efficiently a rocket engine converts propellant into thrust," said Tom Mueller, Vice President of Propulsion for SpaceX. "With a vacuum Isp of 342 seconds, the new Merlin Vacuum engine has exceeded our requirements, setting a new standard for American hydrocarbon engine performance in space."

Based on the Merlin 1C engine that boosted the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket to orbit in 2008, the Merlin Vacuum engine uses a regeneratively cooled combustion chamber. However, the vacuum engine features a larger exhaust section than the Merlin 1C and a much larger radiatively cooled expansion nozzle, in order to maximize performance in the vacuum of space.

The Merlin Vacuum engine provides the final push that delivers customer spacecraft into their desired orbits. A redundant ignition system ensures the engine can shut down and restart multiple times. The engine can also operate at a reduced thrust to achieve optimum performance. During recent tests, the engine was successfully throttled down to 75 percent of maximum thrust, and upcoming tests will demonstrate throttling to approximately 60 percent of maximum thrust.

"Falcon 9 was designed from the ground up to provide our customers with breakthrough advances in reliability," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "In successfully adapting our flight tested first stage engine for use on the second stage, this recent test further validates the architecture of Falcon 9, designed to provide customers with high reliability at a fraction of traditional costs."

SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft were recently selected by NASA to resupply cargo to the International Space Station after the shuttle retires in 2010. The inaugural flight of Falcon 9 is scheduled for later this year from SpaceX's launch pad SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

[TestPilot]

demonstrated a vacuum specific impulse of 342 seconds - the highest efficiency ever for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine.

Хмм... А почему не заменить Мерлины первой ступени этим новым вариантом? Слишком дорог в производстве? Или он слишком перенапряжен и просто боятся?

[Дмитрий В.]

Хмм... А почему не заменить Мерлины первой ступени этим новым вариантом? Слишком дорог в производстве? Или он слишком перенапряжен и просто боятся?

Это не новый, а ВЫСОТНЫЙ вариант. У земли он просто не разовьет требуемой тяги.

[TestPilot]

Edit: таки тяга в вакууме у них почти одинаковая Merlin 1C 90,000 lbs, Merlin Vacuum 92,500 lb.  

И на что они намекали когда говорили "highest efficiency ever for an American"? Только на НК-33? Или есть еще некриогенные двигатели с isp>342?