2019-06-24

@RenataKonkoly @Teslarati Yes, the droids can now hold down the center core

@Teslarati Odds of center core surviving are about 50% imo, as it’s coming in about 4 times faster than a rifle bullet

@Scobleizer @Tesla @teslaownersSV 🖤 Tesla Software Engineering 🖤

Falcon Heavy on LC-39A https://t.co/FsfFa7bRRK

@Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy All Raptors have slight throttle range by adjusting flow to ox & fuel turbines, but deep throttling imposes limitations on injector stiffness & needs extra hardware. Swear these are legit technical terms 🤗

@Some1gee @Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy It’s a factor. Main reason is that FFSC is the ultimate architecture for converting propellant into rocket velocity.

@Elthiryel @Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Yes, they run at *much* higher pressure, but lower temperature. Thermal shock & strain are what fatigue Merlin turbine blades. Solvable for high reusability, but better to apply that engineering to Raptor.

@SpaceXFan97 @Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Same as last time, although we made a design improvement that could yield about 7 bar more

@Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Merlin could probably do 1000 flights too. Turbine blade fatigue cracking would require periodic weld repair or replacement. Probably some seals & bearings as well. Coking not really an issue.

@engadget So cool

@soswow @elontimes Anything with high contrast

@teslaownersSV @elontimes Excessive shades of grey

@elontimes Yeah, we’ve been working on curbs a *lot*. Concrete seams too. So glamorous.

@Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Other rocket engines were designed for no (or almost no) reuse. Raptor is designed for heavy & immediate reuse, like an aircraft jet engine, with inspections required only after many flights, assuming instrumentation shows it good. Using hydrostatic bearings certainly helps.

@28delayslater @EvaFoxU Third revision of Enhanced Summon hopefully going to Tesla owners with early access later this week

@EvaFoxU Haha

@joe_mckirdy @Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Depends on destination

@Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Planning on a simplifying mod to Raptor for max thrust, but no throttling, to get to 250 mT level

@Erdayastronaut @13ericralph31 @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy Since Raptor produces 200 tons of force, cost per ton would be $1000. However, Raptor is designed for ~1000 flights with negligible maintenance, so cost per ton over time would actually be ~$1.

@DatKlow Chomsky sucks

Yet another Monty Python reference, possibly my favorite https://t.co/kzjh26eIEn

Anarcho-syndicalism FTW!!

@Erdayastronaut @HarryStoltz1 @flcnhvy More than that now, but <10% of that in volume, although much to be proven

@HarryStoltz1 @Erdayastronaut @flcnhvy Full year production is usually ~70% of peak daily rate, so 500/year. Still, non-trivial at 100,000 tons of thrust/year.

@Erdayastronaut @flcnhvy Raptor liberated its oxygen turbine stator (appears to be mechanical, not metal combustion failure), so we need to update the design & replace some parts. Production is ramping exponentially, though. SN6 almost done. Aiming for an engine every 12 hours by end of year.

@MinaMYoussef @Erdayastronaut @flcnhvy https://t.co/NEHmzHYJEE

@Erdayastronaut @flcnhvy For sure moon 1st, as it’s only 3 days away & u don’t need interplanetary orbital synchronization