Questions tagged [reuse]
Questions regarding the reuse of parts or equipment.
166
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5answers
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Reusable spacecraft: why still have fairings detach, instead of open/close?
Why do reusable rockets (e.g. SpaceX Falcon 9) still utilize detachable fairings? SpaceX keeps trying to find a way to recover the $6M fairings for obvious cost saving reasons, why not have them ...
7
votes
1answer
112 views
How much of the recovery system does Spacex remove from a Falcon 9 when using it in an expended manner?
Falcon 9s have a limit to how many times they can be reused, and, for the last flight of a booster they don't make it land (in one piece), and instead use all the fuel to help the payload. That way ...
5
votes
1answer
307 views
What is the Process for Re-certifying Flight Hardware?
I was reading about how we reused the water tanks because they were still within their certified life-time and had two questions:
When would a certification become VOID?
I'd assume if the water ...
54
votes
1answer
6k views
Why use water tanks from a retired Space Shuttle?
In 2015, technicians entered the retired Space Shuttle Endeavour to remove the water tanks, with the goal of reusing these tanks on ISS.
The space shuttle Endeavour is retired and on display at the ...
4
votes
2answers
364 views
Have there been any examples of re-usable rockets in the past?
I am writing a piece about re-usable rockets and I'm wondering, apart from SpaceX, have there been any re-usable rockets in the past, success or 'failure', as in didn't perform as expected.
Obviously ...
5
votes
3answers
211 views
Will the New Glenn have grid fins? Why or why not?
The January 2019 Blue Origin video New Glenn: The Road to Space shows the rocket with static fins at the bottom and four articulated fins near the top of the first stage.
Is this just notional, or ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
Most challenging aspects of a reusable satellite scheme like this?
What would be the most challenging aspects of a reusable satellite scheme similar to the one shown in this video? For the kilo-constellations (e.g. SpaceX's StarLink with 4,500 to 7,500 satellites) ...
5
votes
2answers
247 views
Could Falcon 9 take off without launchpad
As far as I'm currently aware, the Falcon 9 block 5 does not have the capability to retract it's landing legs once they're deployed, however:
If F9 landing legs had the ability to retract themselves (...
4
votes
1answer
235 views
how reusable are electric pump fed rocket engines like Rutherford Engines of Electron rocket?
In electric pump fed rocket engines, propellants are pumped by two electric motors. So there is just one combustion chamber and that is the main combustion chamber. I guess electric pumps are fairly ...
5
votes
2answers
306 views
What is the most expensive part of a rocket?
I want to say fuel is, but this Question Why isn't stainless steel used for rocket engines? has got me thinking about cost in the long run.
What part commonly found on most rockets cost the most ...
3
votes
2answers
212 views
Is the BFB/super heavy likely to have an easier time landing than the Falcon 9 booster?
Despite the deep throttle of the Merlin 1D engine, the weight of the Falcon 9 booster is less than the force of a single Merlin engine firing at minimum throttle (See here). This means that the Falcon ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
What's the shortest time to reflight of a Falcon 9 booster?
What has been the shortest time in between the landing of a Falcon 9 booster, and SpaceX reusing them on a different mission?
3
votes
1answer
182 views
What Apollo equipment could be salvaged from the Moon?
If humans returned to the original Apollo landing sites, what previously left-behind equipment could reasonably be salvaged as part of a future mission or colony? That is, is everything that was left ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
When does reusable lower rocket stages become benificial?
Can lower stages of current rockets be replaced to reusable and more efficient boosters with parachutes? Would reusable rocket stages save money?
3
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0answers
40 views
Where are all the space capsules? [duplicate]
My understanding is that space capsules, at least until recently with the private companies, have been single-use. Including the Soyuz capsules that Russia keeps using. Which means there could ...
5
votes
1answer
188 views
Why was the water-landed Falcon 9 B5-B1050 towed backwards for retrieval?
The rocket was apparently recovered by attaching a towing line to the heavy, lower end (with the engines) and pulling at backwards.
This seems counterintuitive to me, as this pushes the water into ...
5
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0answers
96 views
Purging process of a rocket engine
Does spacex purge Falcon 9 engines after landing ? If so, which gas is used for purging?
4
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0answers
192 views
Final results on Space Shuttle SRB reuse goal?
One of the stated goals of the Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters (SRBs) was their re-usability and cost savings from such reuse. I know that many of them were reused, but in the end, how successful ...
4
votes
1answer
166 views
Satellite retrieval, fix and deploy possible remotely?
Is there any satellites that are designed to come back to Earth for repairs or upgrades and then be deployed again? Would there be any benefits to creating a capsule or inflatable heat shield to go on ...
2
votes
0answers
58 views
How to make a orbital launch tube work?
Normal rockets would not work in a pressurized tube, but could a stage be made for the diagonal launch tube to save fuel and weight? Can the bottom stage be nuclear powered?
Unlike the piston launch ...
19
votes
4answers
3k views
What would be necessary in order for us to achieve a single stage to orbit, reusable rocket?
I have read articles and seen videos explaining why an SSTO (Single Stage To Orbit) rocket* is not possible. But I was wondering... What would be required to achieve this? Answers can be literally ...
8
votes
1answer
174 views
Are there proven economic advantages to rocket re-usability?
Of course, you save a lot of material, but I have heard some Russian rocket people say that that the main cost in rocket comes from the manufacture and testing. And for reusable rockets, you need to ...
4
votes
5answers
332 views
What if anything makes launching a recovered SpaceX rocket from a drone ship implausible?
Since SpaceX lands their rockets on drone ships (aka ASDS, barges), I'm curious what if anything would prevent rockets from being relaunched from the ship.
Obviously the ship would need ...
6
votes
1answer
119 views
Is the atmosphere a positive or a negative for reusability?
Does the atmosphere provide a benefit or detriment in terms of fuel economy for rockets that take off and land back on Earth? We know that the atmosphere plays a large role in helping slow down ...
0
votes
2answers
168 views
How would the US military switch to re-usable rockets?
The Ars Technica article After 25 years, military told to move from “expendable” to “reusable” rockets gives me pause.
The military rockets I'm aware of generally explode at end of mission by design (...
42
votes
4answers
10k views
Why can't Falcon 9 fairings touch the water?
SpaceX is spending considerable effort to catch Falcon 9 fairings into a giant net on a ship. I am aware that salt water ruins almost everything in the long run, but the fairings are a composite ...
9
votes
1answer
346 views
What makes it so hard to precisely land a fairing?
SpaceX currently tries to land their fairing halves on a boat with a net attached to it. So far they had no success but landed nearby, although quadrupling the net area.
They first tried with this ...
7
votes
0answers
208 views
How is Mr Steven piloted when catching a fairing?
Mr Steven is the ocean-going vessel used by SpaceX in its attempts to catch re-entrant Falcon 9 fairings for possible reuse.
How is this ship controlled during fairing catch attempts?
Is she* manned ...
3
votes
1answer
335 views
Reuse statistics of SpaceX Dragon capsules?
The question about the rolled-up and deployable solar array How does ROSA unroll? (Roll Out Solar Array) begins:
The upcoming SpaceX launch with the apparently first re-use of a dragon capsule will ...
8
votes
1answer
176 views
Why aren't the Ariane 5's SRBs reused?
The Ariane 5 uses two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), which can be recovered by parachute if desired. However, unlike (for instance) the space shuttle SRBs, Ariane 5 SRBs are only occasionally ...
6
votes
3answers
779 views
Will reusable rockets be financially viable?
While the vertical landing of rockets by SpaceX is certainly a significant achievement, there seem to be many who say that reusability is not actually financially viable. Apparently, it is far too ...
17
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is the first stage from the Falcon 9 SES-12 mission not recovered?
Youtube video here
At 4:13 minutes into the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO NASA Launch, the commentator mentions:
The first stage is not going to be recovered, so there won't be any views from the drone ship ...
30
votes
3answers
7k views
Why won't they recover the Falcon 9 from CRS-14?
According to the upcoming livestream of SpaceX CRS-14 (resupply of ISS):
SpaceX will not attempt to recover Falcon 9’s first stage after launch.
Why not? Wasn't that the whole point of (among ...
3
votes
1answer
136 views
Is a soot covered flight proven Falcon 9 lighter or heavier than a new falcon 9?
Since SpaceX now does not repaint or clean off the sides of the first stage booster prior to reuse, does this make the soot covered stage heavier or lighter? And is this difference in weight ...
12
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1answer
2k views
Why is there a need for getting rid of ISS trash using the empty ATV and similar vehicles
Why is trash from the ISS sent down in some of the cargo vehicles. Would it not make more sense to dump it overboard in the downward + retrograde direction (as described here) and use reusable cargo ...
24
votes
4answers
9k views
Why is SpaceX building the Big Falcon Ship before the Big Falcon Rocket?
I believe that SpaceX is planning on building the BFS (Big Falcon Spacecraft) before the BFR (Big Falcon Rocket), which serves as the first stage for the second-stage BFS. Does anyone know why they ...
10
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3answers
3k views
Are spacecraft single-use?
Are today's spacecraft and carrier rockets really for one use only (launch and landing)? And then they can't be used anymore?
5
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1answer
233 views
Can (or will) Block5 Falcon 9s be used on the Falcon Heavy?
With the Block5 version of Falcon 9 booster soon to be flying, will they be used for the Falcon Heavy, or will they remain a stand alone thing?
5
votes
1answer
180 views
Why is Mr. Steven in California and not Florida
Mr. Steven is the ship that is used to catch fairings. There is one of these thus far, and it is based to assist Vandenberg, not Cape Canaveral. Why are they choosing to test the fairing catching in ...
7
votes
1answer
256 views
Falcon 9 fairings stability on reentry
On the descent of the fairings into the atmosphere how is stability provided?
Why does it not start to rotate in a uncontrollable fall but reenter gently without apparently damage on the interior ...
7
votes
2answers
275 views
Is SpaceX trying to catch two pieces of fairing with one boat?
During the Paz / Starlink demo mission (2/22/18), SpaceX attempted to catch the fairing before it splashed-down into the ocean. They failed to catch it by just a few hundred meters.
My question is:...
14
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2answers
2k views
What is the cause of this Falcon 9 first stage “dance” after landing?
Recently I watched a video on YouTube by Scott Manley: How To Do A Hoverslam - Things Kerbal Space Program Doesn't Teach. It deals about landing burns of Falcon 9 first stages. It features short clips ...
28
votes
1answer
3k views
Why the soot pattern on the nosecone of Falcon Heavy side booster?
When a SpaceX booster is landed, we are used to seeing soot deposited all over it, usually in a specific pattern.
You can read more about that in this question:
Why the strange bands of soot of the ...
2
votes
2answers
978 views
Will SpaceX use a BFR Heavy mode, similar to the Falcon Heavy but with 3 BFR cores? [closed]
Big Falcon Rocket will need several (maybe 6) tanker missions to get enough fuel for a Mars mission.
Does this mean at some point we may witness one BFR Heavy, made of three BFR first stages ...
45
votes
7answers
6k views
What technological breakthroughs were required to land booster stages?
It is only recently that SpaceX developed first stages that can land again, and be reused.
The (until recent) non-existent landing of re-useable rockets is presumably, partially, due to a lack of ...
4
votes
1answer
313 views
Can Falcon Heavy side boosters/center core be reused as Falcon 9s?
Since the Falcon Heavy is just essentially 3 Falcon 9s strapped together, would it be possible to reuse them as Falcon 9s with some modification?
3
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1answer
1k views
Just how much of the Falcon Heavy is reusable?
I've been looking for just this one bit of info, in all the press: exactly how much of the Falcon Heavy is recoverable and reusable? Obviously not the fuel, but is all the hardware recovered? If so, ...
7
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2answers
2k views
Why did the Falcon Heavy core engines fail to reignite?
I realize that this is a hot take, less than twenty-four hours later at the time of posting, but is any technical detail known about why the core engines failed to restart, causing the crash?
16
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2answers
5k views
Did the fairings from the Falcon Heavy test flight get recovered?
According to the flight plan that Elon Musk posted on Twitter, there's a section listed as 'Fairing Recovery', was this section successful? Did the Fairings get recovered?
8
votes
1answer
289 views
How will they lower the landed side boosters after landing, if there is a nose cone?
To lower/handle landed stages, SpaceX has a rig that connects to the inter stage and they use it as an attach point for the crane to lift/move it.
The two cores landed in Florida after the first ...
