4 ms·
That's interesting. I always assumed that most of the damage happened on re-entry and not the splashdown. Can you elaborate on why the splashdown kills re-use?
by rsj_hn 8y ago
That's interesting. I always assumed that most of the damage happened on re-entry and not the splashdown. Can you elaborate on why the splashdown kills re-use?
- deedubaya 8y agoI'm guessing its the salt water that is the problem.
- huehehue 8y ago"Although water retrieval has been attempted, it is not recommended due to the adverse effect that salt water has on avionics, electronics, and structures. This approach was abandoned due to the elevated cost associated with refurbishing salt water damaged components. By avoiding water retrieval, the engines would avoid maintenance that would have resulted from the corrosive nature of the salt water and thereby expedite turnaround time. When considering recovery of reusable systems, salt water is much more severe than returning to land at the launch site." https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170000606.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/201700...
- varjag 8y agoThis is related to rocket engines, not ballistic descent capsules.
- Teever 8y agoBallistic descent capsules such as the Dragon have rocket engines in them.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- avmich 8y agoTrue. However some capsules have rather small engines, and small available delta-v, so the whole propulsion package can be made, say, replaceable. Soyuz, for example, lands using only about 30 kilograms of hydrogen peroxide to help with control during reentry. Maybe Crew Dragon can evolve to have this subsystem serviceable.
- based2 8y agojust create a movable water pool for the ocean. http://news.mit.edu/2015/shockwave-process-desalination-water-1112 http://news.mit.edu/2015/shockwave-process-desalination-wate...
- bahmboo 8y agoI live by salt water. Salt water destroys everything. Sometimes quickly but always eventually. Ok, maybe not fish.
- lenocinor 8y agoIt's really true. In your home it'll even happen to your indoor stuff if you're not careful.
- varjag 8y agoCarbon steel hull ships traverse saltwater for many decades however.
- emiliobumachar 8y agoWhat's their maintenance like?
- varjag 8y agoScrub/repaint every few years? In comparison, splashdown capsules spend maybe few hours tops in the water.
- lutorm 8y agoThe problem is that, unlike ships, they're generally not designed to be water proof. It's not the exterior that's the problem.
- luke0016 8y agoI mean, the crew part of it is water proof, right? It has to be air tight... I'm guessing there are things on the "outside" that might still have issues?
- politician 8y ago