MaverickSawyer
Acolyte of the Probe
This whole thing smells of desperation.
I could be wrong here, but they probably use GPS for guidance now, and that doesn't work on the Moon... and they probably also need a more powerful radio.The fact that this cislunar flight shouldn't require brand new hardware
Refer to SATURN V - 2nd test flight (April 1968) was a partial failure - 2 engines in 2nd
stage shutdown because of problems in fuel line to igniters
Restart of 3rd stage in orbit failed
Yet in December 1968 SATURN V manned Apollo 8 mission to moon
Most of the hardware for FALCON HEAVY has already been flight tested numerous time
(not withstanding that little problem on pad last fall...)
FALCON HEAVY at its basic is FALCON 9 with 2 Falcon 9 first stages strapped to it
Only thing unique is propellant cross feed from the 2 boosters to core stage
You're forgetting the structure vibrations and loads, control system, aerodynamics, pad acoustics, etc...
Your're forgetting the structure vibrations and loads, control system, aerodinamics, pad acoustics, etc...
If it had been so easy, it would not have accumulated four years of delay. Also, the FH configuration was continuously modified over the time.FALCON HEAVY at its basic is FALCON 9 with 2 Falcon 9 first stages strapped to it
FH has no more propellant crossfeed. That feature was cancelled.Only thing unique is propellant cross feed from the 2 boosters to core stage
If it had been so easy, it would not have accumulated four years of delay. Also, the FH configuration was continuously modified over the time.
@K Jameson
I simply don't get your negativity on this topic. [...]
The delay was mostly because of the reconfiguring of the base F9.
First flight of Delta IV Medium: November 20, 2002
First flight of Delta IV Heavy: December 21, 2004
FH currently lacks a proper upper stage for BLEO high energy missions.
Three and a half decades ago NASA foolishly launched STS on its very first test flight in full stack configuration with two guys riding it, and somehow got away with it.
:thumbup:So it's not impossible, but I still think it's way too risky. [...] I think it's basically PR noise. But we'll see.
I could be wrong here, but they probably use GPS for guidance now, and that doesn't work on the Moon... and they probably also need a more powerful radio.
Like most things SpaceX, it's not necessarily that they can't do it, but that they can't do it in the much advertised timeframe.
Guidance, Navigation and Control
For navigational purposes, Dragon is outfitted with Inertial Measurement Units, GPS Systems, Iridium Recovery Beacons and Star Trackers. Attitude Control and Navigation in orbit is accomplished with the IMU and Star Trackers. Attitude Determination has an accuracy of 0.004 Degrees or smaller. Attitude Control is 0.012 degrees on each axis in Stationkeeping Mode. Dragon provides a fully autonomous Rendezvous and Docking System. For manned missions, a manual docking is also possible by using the override function to control the vehicle by hand.
Yes, and to be fair to SpaceX that is one of the needed modifications they mentioned in the announcement.
You try very hard to be realistic... That hilarious "mars mission" video...
...I only try to be realistic.