Tencent Technology News November 19, Wednesday, local time, US space exploration technology company SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (Elon Musk) revealed that its interstellar spacecraft design may appear "worthy of attention" changes.
In the past few months, Musk promised to update the development progress of the interstellar spacecraft annually. Presumably, he will either give a speech in South Texas, or publish an article on the SpaceX website to explain, or both. It was initially expected that this update would be carried out in September or October, and then repeated several times. Until now, Musk has made it clear that he will postpone the update of the next-generation spacecraft development plan to explain many "notable" design changes.
At the same time, SpaceX is always preparing for a series of key tests of the eighth prototype SN8 of the interplanetary spacecraft. Recently, the company conducted a successful low-temperature pressure test on the spacecraft prototype, multiple wet dress rehearsals (WDRS), nose cone installation, the first three Raptor engine static ignition test, and the engine test using a smaller top tank.
Musk also explained the recent static ignition anomaly of the interstellar spacecraft. The static ignition propellant on the top of the SN8 Raptor engine (mainly used for landing) was not tested as planned, causing a high temperature fire and shutting off the hydraulic system of the interplanetary spacecraft. For the SpaceX test controller, this means that most of the spacecraft's valves and booster systems are completely out of control, basically allowing the SN8's top tank to undergo unplanned pressure and failsafe testing. In the days after that, what caused this unfortunate failure of
has always been the subject of a lot of discussions, and these discussions can ultimately be explained by the new information provided by Musk himself. Surprisingly, SpaceX has apparently decided to add a fail-safe device on the top of the SN8, installing a device called a rupture disk, which is actually an automatic disposable valve. Once the top (liquid oxygen) storage tank reaches a dangerous pressure level, the pressure will break the seal, allowing the rocket to release excess pressure and avoid a possible catastrophic explosion.
According to Musk, the reason for this near-wreck was as simple as the debris that was raised when the SN8 Raptor engine was statically ignited. Musk said that the Raptor engine produces a thrust of up to 200 tons and an exhaust speed of about 3.3 kilometers per second. It tore a special ceramic coating covering the concrete directly below the SN8. According to reports, the fragments of this coating are likely to accelerate to extremely high speeds within a few milliseconds, "cutting an avionics cable and causing a severe shutdown of the Raptor engine."
Before Musk’s comment, SpaceX’s technicians had dismantled one of the three SN8 Raptor engines on November 14 and replaced it with the Raptor SN42 on November 16, proving that the interplanetary spacecraft’s engine part suffered any damage. Damage is easy to repair. It is unclear exactly how a broken cable can cause the Raptor engine to look like molten metal is dripping, but whatever the cause is, repair seems to be quick.
In response to this anomaly, Musk said that the avionics cables of the interplanetary spacecraft will eventually be laid in steel tubes to protect them from debris, and “water-cooled steel tubes” will be added to the launch pad to help limit the Raptor engine. Possible damage. Perhaps due to the trouble SN8 encountered on the launch pad, Musk said that his Starship blog post will have to be postponed because SpaceX may make some significant changes to the spacecraft design.
Before the SN8 Raptor engine test failed on November 12, SpaceX is expected to attempt three consecutive static firings before it can approve the rocket for an ambitious 15-kilometer high-altitude flight test. One of the static ignitions was completed on November 10th. It is unclear whether the SN8 test plan remains unchanged or whether the static ignition counter has been effectively reset. In any case, unless there are more surprises, SN8 may still be ready for its first launch before the end of November. (Tencent Technology Review/Golden Deer)
