Page 2 of 2

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 8:15 pm
by lpm
Is that the end of innovation in launches? Keep this basic set up for a couple of centuries?

Why bother with space planes? Why bother with dropping rockets from aircraft?

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 8:28 pm
by Grumble
lpm wrote:
Sat May 30, 2020 8:15 pm
Is that the end of innovation in launches? Keep this basic set up for a couple of centuries?

Why bother with space planes? Why bother with dropping rockets from aircraft?
Indeed, the main point of space planes was reusability, the main point of launching from aircraft is reducing fuel requirements.

However the “Starship” could be a big step again.

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 1:29 pm
by Gfamily
They're live streaming the docking

Currently 200 metres apart
https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 3:13 pm
by Grumble
Smooth as anything. I’ve not watched a docking before, didn’t realise it took so long between the docking and the hatch open.

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:17 pm
by Pishwish
So the cause of Rocketlab's Electron rocket failure on July 4th has been identified. In the past, the media would have just left it at "electrical fault" but these days we get all the technical details we crave.
Rocket Lab said its team “was able to confidently narrow the issue down to a single anomalous electrical connection.”
“This connection was intermittently secure through flight, creating increasing resistance that caused heating and thermal expansion in the electrical component,” Rocket Lab said. “This caused the surrounding potting compounds to liquify, leading to the disconnection of the electrical system and subsequent engine shutdown.”“The liquefaction of this potting compound is a result of the additional heat caused by the resistance,” Beck explained. “When those potting compounds are able to flow, it doesn’t create great electrical connections.”
Electron uses electric motors to pump the fuel and oxidiser into the combustion chambers. Even with its substantial power requirements, it is surprising that a connection would heat itself up that quickly given the rocket's short life.

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:38 pm
by shpalman
Grumble wrote:
Sun May 31, 2020 3:13 pm
Smooth as anything. I’ve not watched a docking before, didn’t realise it took so long between the docking and the hatch open.
They should be on their way back at some point soon.

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 8:40 pm
by bjn
Pishwish wrote:
Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:17 pm
So the cause of Rocketlab's Electron rocket failure on July 4th has been identified. In the past, the media would have just left it at "electrical fault" but these days we get all the technical details we crave.
Rocket Lab said its team “was able to confidently narrow the issue down to a single anomalous electrical connection.”
“This connection was intermittently secure through flight, creating increasing resistance that caused heating and thermal expansion in the electrical component,” Rocket Lab said. “This caused the surrounding potting compounds to liquify, leading to the disconnection of the electrical system and subsequent engine shutdown.”“The liquefaction of this potting compound is a result of the additional heat caused by the resistance,” Beck explained. “When those potting compounds are able to flow, it doesn’t create great electrical connections.”
Electron uses electric motors to pump the fuel and oxidiser into the combustion chambers. Even with its substantial power requirements, it is surprising that a connection would heat itself up that quickly given the rocket's short life.
If it was intermittently connected it was probably arcing when almost connected, causing quite a bit of heat. I had a similar problem with a circuit breaker on the main board of my house, much scorching.

Re: Space Launch

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:02 am
by jimbob
Pishwish wrote:
Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:17 pm
So the cause of Rocketlab's Electron rocket failure on July 4th has been identified. In the past, the media would have just left it at "electrical fault" but these days we get all the technical details we crave.
Rocket Lab said its team “was able to confidently narrow the issue down to a single anomalous electrical connection.”
“This connection was intermittently secure through flight, creating increasing resistance that caused heating and thermal expansion in the electrical component,” Rocket Lab said. “This caused the surrounding potting compounds to liquify, leading to the disconnection of the electrical system and subsequent engine shutdown.”“The liquefaction of this potting compound is a result of the additional heat caused by the resistance,” Beck explained. “When those potting compounds are able to flow, it doesn’t create great electrical connections.”
Electron uses electric motors to pump the fuel and oxidiser into the combustion chambers. Even with its substantial power requirements, it is surprising that a connection would heat itself up that quickly given the rocket's short life.
Well there's little to heat sink it