Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: NorthMountain
What could go wrong?

I ask myself this with no hint of derision or sarcasm, because I truly don't know. Is it safer to fuel up hours or only moments before launch?

Liquid propellants warm up and bleed off constantly on the pad, that's a potential disaster in itself. For a long wait, enough fuel could escape that more is needed to complete the mission. You have to add fuel on the pad, do you evacuate the capsule? If you do, now you're really behind, you miss your window.

You gotta think about stress on the rocket, condensation and ice buildup too. Maybe the minimum time is actually safer, even if it's a risk to load a manned rocket. Which risk is greater?

15 posted on 08/09/2018 10:49:23 AM PDT by ZOOKER (Until further notice the /s is implied...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]


To: ZOOKER
Is it safer to fuel up hours or only moments before launch?

You don't suppose, perhaps, that the engineers at SpaceX have already thought about that, do you?

As posed on this forum, the question is almost invariably posed in ignorant derision. It has grown tiresome.

I actually read the article. I know: Heresy and Blasphemy!!!

Reasons for fueling immediately before launch are given ... and are interesting. The Falcon-9 does some things a little differently from older rockets.

16 posted on 08/09/2018 10:55:10 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson