Questions tagged [spacex]
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, is a private space exploration company. It was the world's first privately held company to successfully launch a cargo mission into space , cargo to the ISS (International Space Station), land and reuse a booster, and a crewed mission into orbit. See the wiki for related tags.
144
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
13
votes
0
answers
330
views
Does the SpaceX spacesuit address any of the criticisms of ACES raised by Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report?
A brief history of what Shuttle crews wore for ascent and entry, from the Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report:
The shuttle was originally designed to be operated in a shirtsleeve (bare-hands) ...
- 131
9
votes
0
answers
223
views
Why is the water pumped out of the holding tank a minute before Falcon 9 liftoff?
SpaceX Falcon 9 - starlink mission on October 5. Video :
Why is the water discharged at T- 01m:30s from the holding tank far away from the launch pad?
This was also ...
- 2,644
9
votes
0
answers
951
views
Roughly how many self-viewing cameras are present in a Falcon 9 LEO mission?
Watch any of last year's SpaceX LEO satellite deployment missions's broadcasts in YouTube, and you can see views from at least several different cameras. At least two on the 2nd stage nozzle, at least ...
- 149k
8
votes
0
answers
199
views
Onboard recording of trans-Mars injection
Is there any video recording of the Falcon Heavy trans-Mars injection burn from onboard cameras?
The live feed of the Tesla Roadster and Starman orbiting Earth cycled through multiple cameras ...
- 401
8
votes
0
answers
636
views
Dragon Pad Abort hot fire, how much cleanup work was needed?
The day before the Pad Abort test attempt (May 5, 2015) SpaceX test fired the SuperDraco engines in a hot fire. Similar to how they test the Falcon 9 a day or three before launch, the engines spin up ...
- 79.3k
8
votes
1
answer
264
views
What is inside the overhead compartments in crew dragon
During the DEMO-2 live stream there was a black section visible above the heads of the astronauts. In an image tweeted out by Elon these were labeled as “9” and “10” with symbols of water droplets.
...
- 3,566
7
votes
0
answers
183
views
What was the thin, black object that was moving around the engine bay of SpaceX Starship SN15?
SpaceX Starship SN15 flew and landed successfully but,
A few minutes into the flight, a long, thin seemingly black object was seen moving around the engine bay
What was this object?
What is it used ...
- 1,636
7
votes
0
answers
208
views
Crew Dragon: How thick is the skin?
Auto body panels are about 20-gauge, or just under 1 mm thick. This is fine for many reasons: thin panels are light for good fuel economy and crumple easily for shock absorption without unnecessary ...
user39728
7
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Why were the SpaceX ninjas (pad crew) using a stepladder to move something?
On the second launch attempt of the Dragon Crew Demo 2 (human spaceflight), sometime lower than 1:50:00 to launch, the ninjas spend about 5 minutes on a stepladder, dealing with a tube and box, which ...
- 850
7
votes
0
answers
190
views
Does the low gravity on Moon eliminate the need for a launch pad/flame trench for a reusable rocket launch?
I'm new to rocket science and I learned how the rockets do not reach full thrust immediately and isn't really stable for the initial couple of seconds - hence the need for "launch clamps" and a ...
- 99
7
votes
0
answers
375
views
What caused this shadow on Falcon 9 stage 2 w/Jason-3 before circularization burn?
While the image appears bright, the light is just reflected sunlight (from the earth, per the webcast). The circularization burn doesn't start until about T+ 00:55:16 per the SpaceX webcast. But at ...
- 149k
7
votes
2
answers
671
views
Why do the SpaceX suits require "drying" during the mission?
In the period when the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission was initially docking with the ISS, before the hatches were open, one of the tasks was to "dry the suits". They reported on the status later, ...
- 850
6
votes
0
answers
199
views
What are the highlighted rectangular objects on the SpaceX's CRS 21 Dragon capsule?
What are the rectangular objects seemingly placed where otherwise Super Dracos would be - in this picture of the CRS 21 Dragon 2 capsule?
Reference: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/...
- 529
6
votes
0
answers
97
views
SpaceX Dragon Shape: Power Series, Ellipsoid, or Haack/Von Karman?
The SpaceX Dragon module has a round apex typical of power series, ellipsoid, and Haack/Von Karman shapes. I'm wondering which of these SpaceX actually used. References would be appreciated.
My guess ...
user36480
6
votes
0
answers
140
views
How much pressure would the raptor engines experience when Starship does an atmosphere entry burn at Mars?
The Starship second stage has 3 sea level engines and 3 vacuum engines.
When doing the atmosphere entry burn to mars, how many Bars will the raptor engines experience?
I'm thinking that because of the ...
- 479
6
votes
0
answers
523
views
Are the SpaceX ground crew wearing masks as part of a standard suit or to prevent COVID-19?
Watching the live SpaceX operations and I noticed the ground crew were all wearing masks
Is this part of the standard ground crew kit, or is this just for COVID-19 prevention?
- 7,780
6
votes
0
answers
315
views
What (the heck) is this purple donut in the video of the Falcon 9 fairing's atmospheric reentry?
This SpaceX tweet (found in CNET's SpaceX camera captures incredible view of rocket part returning to Earth) shows a video taken by a camera in one half of the fairing on the recent STP-2 mission and ...
- 149k
6
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Potential improvement to BFR or New Glenn if equipped with aerospike exhaust on their engines?
Aerospikes basically tackle the issue of the variability in required expansion ratio for a rocket engine to be efficient at a given altitude. A recent example though mired in legal issues is a small ...
- 61
6
votes
0
answers
164
views
What accounts for the signal delay from cameras on the Falcon 9?
On the last few webcasts, SpaceX has shown video from both ground tracking cameras and the on-board camera side-by-side, and there's a noticable delay between the two, with the on-board camera being ...
- 2,300
6
votes
0
answers
135
views
Did SpaceX use TDRSS or USAF ground station to track Falcon 9 stage 2?
Which system did spacex rely to?
Falcon, not dragon
- 61
6
votes
1
answer
464
views
How does the flight trajectory of a GEO vs LEO mission vary for a Falcon 9 first stage?
How does the trajectory vary between the two types of missions? Specifically, how does the speed and velocity vary for the booster for a Falcon 9 mission?
- 121k
5
votes
0
answers
119
views
When docked, do Dragon solar panels contribute to ISS mains power?
What it says on the tin.
Does a docked Dragon trunk section contribute to the ISS's batteries? I'm aware it would probably be minimal though due to orientation and occlusion of the panels, and when ...
- 18k
5
votes
0
answers
265
views
What is this ring-shaped part falling from Starship SN9 after launch?
The picture shown is a screenshot during the recent launch of SpaceX's SN9 from a live stream, and I noticed that a black ring fell off the exhaust/engine. It only shows up for around a frame or two ...
- 203
5
votes
0
answers
139
views
Is Crew Dragon rated for any non-Spacex boosters?
The Spacex crew Dragon uses the Falcon 9 for its orbital launches, and is not set to ever use a different launcher.
However, an uncrewed Dragon will probably launch on the Falcon Heavy, as is planned ...
- 5,324
5
votes
0
answers
118
views
Electrical power requirements for Starship or Falcon 9
Anybody know where one could dig up electrical requirements for Starship? In other words, if Starship were sitting on the launch pad drawing power prior to launch, what would the load be?
I imagine ...
- 51
5
votes
0
answers
172
views
How does the SpaceX Dragon nosecone separate?
SpaceX's Dragon uses a nosecone to protect the docking port during ascent.
The nosecone seems very large. 1/3 of the capsule's height large. And yet, it separates while the second stage engine is ...
- 1,060
5
votes
0
answers
83
views
How similar to a crewed flight will SpaceX Demo Mission 1 be?
With the upcoming premiere of the Dragon 2 in SpaceX's DM1 launch, I was wondering how similar it will be to a mission with actual astronauts. What I mean by this is things like:
Will the launch ...
- 18k
5
votes
0
answers
289
views
Purging process of a rocket engine
Does spacex purge Falcon 9 engines after landing ? If so, which gas is used for purging?
- 1,161
5
votes
0
answers
390
views
Why is heated Helium used for tank pressurisation in Falcon 1?
Here in Falcon 1 user guide, in table 2-1 in page 8, heated Helium is mentioned as used for tank pressurisation. What will be the temperature of such He and why is heated He used?
- 4,469
5
votes
0
answers
461
views
Does the downrange position of an ASDS vary, depending on payload mass?
SpaceX in its recovery attempts can either do a Return To Launch Site (RTLS) or land downrange on an ASDS landing barge.
The Telesat 19V and 18V payloads were some of the heaviest payloads on the ...
- 79.3k
5
votes
0
answers
209
views
What is the droplet size that is desirable for pintle injectors?
The pintle injectors tend to generate droplets after impingement of the fuel and the oxidiser stream and I understand that the droplets will be premixed.
In such a case, even a larger premixed ...
- 4,469
5
votes
0
answers
177
views
SpaceX CRS-11 landing pad debris identification
After sending CRS-11 into orbit to rendezvous with the space station, the first stage of the SpaceX rocket Dragon landed on Landing Zone one.
In the video released subsequently you can see two pieces ...
- 1,103
5
votes
1
answer
210
views
Will the International Space Station be able to see the Falcon 9 (Inspiration4 launch)
Will astronauts aboard the International Space Station be able to see any part of the Inspiration4 flight of the Falcon 9 during launch and/or during orbit?
- 59
5
votes
1
answer
762
views
How much noise would the BFR make at launch?
In addition to multi-planetary travel, SpaceX has plans to use the BFR for intercontinental travel. However, would the sound generated by the BFR's launch disrupt local communities and therefore make ...
- 658
5
votes
1
answer
496
views
What is the O/F mixture ratio and the ISP for the SuperDraco Engine by SpaceX?
Is it safe to assume a mixture ratio of 2.16 with an ISP of 313 s for the NTO/MMH, SuperDraco Engine manufactured by SpaceX?
I am referencing the 2.16 propellant mixture ratio, and estimating or ...
- 499
4
votes
0
answers
222
views
Why is SpaceX spraying water on their barges?
We often see on the SpaceX launch streams that they are spraying water on the deck of the ASDS where the booster will land:
There are multiple potential reasons to do this which come to mind:
...
- 1,326
4
votes
0
answers
164
views
Were SpaceX's early launches insured?
SpaceX's first three launches (of the Falcon 1) were failures, with the fourth launch being a success. Rockets are generally insured in order to protect the payload investment, but those three ...
- 700
4
votes
0
answers
100
views
With the new (Feb 2022) NASA SpaceX Crew Dragon contract extension, how much per flight?
NASA awarded flights 7, 8, and 9 for Crew Dragon in an extension of the existing contract, bringing the total value to \$3,490,872,904 . We know that in 2014 SpaceX was awarded about $2.6 billion to ...
- 121k
4
votes
0
answers
209
views
How many turbine blades, engine seals and bearings do reusable rocket engines have and how are they inspected?
From previous year statements of SpaceX representatives, the most difficult and longest part of used F9 booster refurbishment are inspections of the most volatile parts of the booster's nine Merlin ...
- 530
4
votes
0
answers
195
views
How does a returning Falcon first stage decide when to end its re-entry burn?
When a Falcon 9 first stage is returning to Earth to land, it performs a brief re-entry burn in order to slow down.
My question is, what criteria does the first stage control software use to decide ...
- 1,025
4
votes
0
answers
158
views
Do space transportation firms such as SpaceX receive a financial compensation if a launch is cancelled because of an airplane entering the launch zone
I read on https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/spacex-to-launch-second-rideshare-pressuring-small-launch-industry/ (mirror 1, mirror 2):
The countdown clock got to T-11 seconds on Tuesday ...
- 1,164
4
votes
0
answers
394
views
What material on windows of space vehicles?
Submarine windows are designed to withstand extreme pressure differentials, and at least on private submarines, those are generally made of thick acrylic. I want to say space vehicles like Crew Dragon ...
user39728
4
votes
0
answers
312
views
What was the cause of the fire on the SpaceX Starship SN15
SpaceX Starship SN15 had a successful test flight and touchdown but a few minutes after it landed, a small fire was seen to break out next to the Fins.
Why did this break out?
What was the cause of ...
- 1,636
4
votes
0
answers
255
views
SN11 was launched in fog. Why not wait for better conditions?
The fog certainly frustrated the external observers, but it doesn't seem ideal from SpaceX perspective either.
All the external observers were very distant from the launch/landing site and would be ...
- 3,844
4
votes
0
answers
44
views
What does diiferent colours in orbital path seen in the CRS 21 launch video indicate?
The SpaceX broadcast of Falcon 9 - CRS 21 launch showed the orbital path of the vehicle differently than previous videos. Separate green lines and rectangualar boxes were visible.
What additional ...
- 2,644
4
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How much will Starship SN8 weigh on liftoff?
Apparently SN8 recently underwent a 'Cryo' pressure test and to do that the press stated that 1000 tonnes of liquid Nitrogen was used! Is that really true? That got me thinking: just how much does ...
- 41
4
votes
0
answers
141
views
How will Amazon's constellation differentiate itself from SpaceX's and OneWeb's?
The New York Times' Amazon Satellites Add to Astronomers’ Worries About the Night Sky says:
Much of the attention on these strings of satellites has been placed on the prolific launches of SpaceX and ...
- 149k
4
votes
1
answer
486
views
Methane or LOX tank at Boca Chica
As we can see on this picture from Mary "@bocachicagal" on NASASpaceFlight, there are two types of tank near the test stand.
Some are black and others are white or bright and shiny metal, ...
- 41
4
votes
0
answers
191
views
how much force can a falcon 9 landing leg handle
According to spacex, the falcon 9 landing legs are made of carbon fiber with aluminum in a honeycomb shape. How much force would be needed to break that?
- 41
4
votes
0
answers
140
views
During ascent, can SPACE-X ever be seen from Long Island, NY?
At night I have seen Space Shuttles' engine exhaust from Long Island NY, in the southeast sky 7 minutes after liftoff from the Cape. Does Space-X ever launch in a direction that it can be seen from ...
