3 ms·

I would love to read that paper if you can find it! Does metal 3D printing mitigate any of these challenges? Or is the problem a packaging problem where there

I would love to read that paper if you can find it! Does metal 3D printing mitigate any of these challenges? Or is the problem a packaging problem where there is a minimum size required for the mechanical parts?

Gibbon1 8y ago
This is the paper I'm drawing most of my blather from. Apparently helpfully linked from the great wiki. https://www.aacademica.org/hernan.emilio.tacca/9.pdf https://www.aacademica.org/hernan.emilio.tacca/9.pdf I did some more looking, the linked study says that turbopumps scale better then electric as the burn time increases. Because burning fuel and oxidizer is more weight efficient than batteries. At short burn times that's offset by the increased weight of the turbopump. Along with my earlier comment, the Proton first stage only burns for 130 seconds. Which puts first stages in the short burn category where eletrics do well. *but never as good as turbo pumps. Which supports the idea that electric systems can compete for large first stages by being simple, cheap, and reliable. More whack is relanding first stage electric fed rockets. Ala SpaceX.
- syntaxing 8y ago
  Super awesome! Thanks! I really wish I learned more about rockets during my graduate studies. Haven't really learned much about them besides supersonic nozzles and the math behind the staged combustion cycle during my ICE class. Any good websites or books you recommend to learn more about them?
Gibbon1 8y ago
> Does metal 3D printing mitigate any of these challenges? I remember reading an interview with some NaSA engineers who were reverse engineering the F1 engines used for the Saturn V. He said notable was the amount of welded assemblies vs ones machined using 5 axis mills, and parts created via Powder Metallurgy on modern designs. http://atlaspressedmetals.com/index.php/pm-advantages/history-of-pm http://atlaspressedmetals.com/index.php/pm-advantages/histor...

Gibbon1 8y ago

This is the paper I'm drawing most of my blather from. Apparently helpfully linked from the great wiki. https://www.aacademica.org/hernan.emilio.tacca/9.pdf https://www.aacademica.org/hernan.emilio.tacca/9.pdf I did some more looking, the linked study says that turbopumps scale better then electric as the burn time increases. Because burning fuel and oxidizer is more weight efficient than batteries. At short burn times that's offset by the increased weight of the turbopump. Along with my earlier comment, the Proton first stage only burns for 130 seconds. Which puts first stages in the short burn category where eletrics do well. *but never as good as turbo pumps. Which supports the idea that electric systems can compete for large first stages by being simple, cheap, and reliable. More whack is relanding first stage electric fed rockets. Ala SpaceX.

syntaxing 8y ago
Super awesome! Thanks! I really wish I learned more about rockets during my graduate studies. Haven't really learned much about them besides supersonic nozzles and the math behind the staged combustion cycle during my ICE class. Any good websites or books you recommend to learn more about them?

Gibbon1 8y ago

> Does metal 3D printing mitigate any of these challenges? I remember reading an interview with some NaSA engineers who were reverse engineering the F1 engines used for the Saturn V. He said notable was the amount of welded assemblies vs ones machined using 5 axis mills, and parts created via Powder Metallurgy on modern designs. http://atlaspressedmetals.com/index.php/pm-advantages/history-of-pm http://atlaspressedmetals.com/index.php/pm-advantages/histor...