SpaceX to build a BFR

[barrykirk]

Thanks for all the feedback guys...<br /><br />Yes, horizontal assy does make sense. I was worried about the part of cranking the rocket from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Obviously, that is an operation that is performed with a empty tanks.<br /><br />In retrospect, that shouldn't be difficult as long as the rocket is supported properly. Maybe the fuel tanks could be pressurized with gasous Nitrogen or Helium before elevating the rocket.

 

[barrykirk]

Thanks for all the feedback guys...<br /><br />Yes, horizontal assy does make sense. I was worried about the part of cranking the rocket from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Obviously, that is an operation that is performed with a empty tanks.<br /><br />In retrospect, that shouldn't be difficult as long as the rocket is supported properly. Maybe the fuel tanks could be pressurized with gasous Nitrogen or Helium before elevating the rocket.

 

[kdavis007]

It is neat, however, they need to launch a rocket first...

 

[kdavis007]

It is neat, however, they need to launch a rocket first...

 

[john_316]

"It is neat, however, they need to launch a rocket first..."<br /><br /><br />Ditto and I am not a Dittohead!!!!<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[john_316]

"It is neat, however, they need to launch a rocket first..."<br /><br /><br />Ditto and I am not a Dittohead!!!!<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[gunsandrockets]

"Question, how badly do rockets perform when fired underwater?"<br /><br />Underwater engine firing already tested successfully.<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/seabee.htm<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/seahorse.htm<br /><br />And SLBM have a long history of underwater launch, let alone semi-submerged launch...<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/polrisa1.htm<br />

 

[gunsandrockets]

"Question, how badly do rockets perform when fired underwater?"<br /><br />Underwater engine firing already tested successfully.<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/seabee.htm<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/seahorse.htm<br /><br />And SLBM have a long history of underwater launch, let alone semi-submerged launch...<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/polrisa1.htm<br />

 

[gunsandrockets]

"I worked on some of the design calculations in the summer of 1962, as a summer hire for "R.C.T.", when he was head of Advanced Development at Aerojet-General in Sacramento. But I can't recall more details, and I think any papers I might have saved are either buried in my "archives" somewhere, or got thrown out!"<br /><br />Fascinating.<br /><br />"I wish I could recall more details of the thing...there IS or was a website about Truax and Sea Dragon. Haven't checked there in awhile."<br /><br />Aside from the familiar www.astronautix.com site, I found another interesting site of an engineer who has done some followup conceptual development work on the Truax concept and related pressure-fed technology, it might interest you...<br /><br />http://www.dunnspace.com/self_pressurized_rockets.htm<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />

 

[gunsandrockets]

"I worked on some of the design calculations in the summer of 1962, as a summer hire for "R.C.T.", when he was head of Advanced Development at Aerojet-General in Sacramento. But I can't recall more details, and I think any papers I might have saved are either buried in my "archives" somewhere, or got thrown out!"<br /><br />Fascinating.<br /><br />"I wish I could recall more details of the thing...there IS or was a website about Truax and Sea Dragon. Haven't checked there in awhile."<br /><br />Aside from the familiar www.astronautix.com site, I found another interesting site of an engineer who has done some followup conceptual development work on the Truax concept and related pressure-fed technology, it might interest you...<br /><br />http://www.dunnspace.com/self_pressurized_rockets.htm<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />

 

[publiusr]

Here is hoping Musk does build some larger boostewrs after all.

 

[publiusr]

Here is hoping Musk does build some larger boostewrs after all.

 

[trailrider]

"I found another interesting site of an engineer who has done some followup conceptual development work on the Truax concept and related pressure-fed technology, it might interest you... <br /><br />http://www.dunnspace.com/self_pressurized_rockets.htm" <br /><br />Very interesting. Thanks!<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[trailrider]

"I found another interesting site of an engineer who has done some followup conceptual development work on the Truax concept and related pressure-fed technology, it might interest you... <br /><br />http://www.dunnspace.com/self_pressurized_rockets.htm" <br /><br />Very interesting. Thanks!<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[josh_simonson]

dunnspace.com is where it's at if you're interested in MCD-BDBs. Too bad the shuttle effectively killed that line of thinking.

 

[josh_simonson]

dunnspace.com is where it's at if you're interested in MCD-BDBs. Too bad the shuttle effectively killed that line of thinking.

 

[publiusr]

This is where the space privatization folks need to invest. Enough with suborbital nonsense.

 

[publiusr]

This is where the space privatization folks need to invest. Enough with suborbital nonsense.

 

[brandido]

I totally agree - Just having read LEO on the Cheap, it seems that the MCD, DFMC and BDB are the way that we need to go to become a true space-faring civilization. I think that SpaceX is going this direction, and I hope they will succeed, but even if they make mistakes, they have opened the door, and I think it is just a matter of time till someone gets it right.<br /><br />However, I think that we need to follow many paths to find the right one. The fundamental problem with the space shuttle, the problem that really screwed up the space industry, was the declartion that it was the only way to go. This dried up funding for other paths, and killed the MCD/DFMC/BDB approach. Looking back, it seems so obvious to me that this was the wrong way to go, but at the time it probably seemed obvious that winged, high-performance, partially reusable designs were the wave of the future. In twenty years, people posting on space forums might be so frustrated that we didn't follow up on the SSTO of things like the Skylon, and spent so much time on BDBs. <br /><br />Right now, SpaceX and Kistler and others are trying the more traditional rocket approach with an emphasis on designing for low cost. Rutan and others are trying different paths to get people into space. My money is on SpaceX, but I can't even come close to guaranteeing that the development of sub-orbital tourism won't come upon a truly revolutionary low-cost method for getting people into space. <br /><br />Bottom line, we don't want all our eggs in one basket.<br />

 

[brandido]

I totally agree - Just having read LEO on the Cheap, it seems that the MCD, DFMC and BDB are the way that we need to go to become a true space-faring civilization. I think that SpaceX is going this direction, and I hope they will succeed, but even if they make mistakes, they have opened the door, and I think it is just a matter of time till someone gets it right.<br /><br />However, I think that we need to follow many paths to find the right one. The fundamental problem with the space shuttle, the problem that really screwed up the space industry, was the declartion that it was the only way to go. This dried up funding for other paths, and killed the MCD/DFMC/BDB approach. Looking back, it seems so obvious to me that this was the wrong way to go, but at the time it probably seemed obvious that winged, high-performance, partially reusable designs were the wave of the future. In twenty years, people posting on space forums might be so frustrated that we didn't follow up on the SSTO of things like the Skylon, and spent so much time on BDBs. <br /><br />Right now, SpaceX and Kistler and others are trying the more traditional rocket approach with an emphasis on designing for low cost. Rutan and others are trying different paths to get people into space. My money is on SpaceX, but I can't even come close to guaranteeing that the development of sub-orbital tourism won't come upon a truly revolutionary low-cost method for getting people into space. <br /><br />Bottom line, we don't want all our eggs in one basket.<br />

 

[publiusr]

There is a nice LCLV page over at www.astronautix.com

 

[publiusr]

There is a nice LCLV page over at www.astronautix.com