4 ms·
I’d be interested to learn if advances in digital computing/controlling potentially solve most of the problems that were seemingly unsolvable in the Soviet era
by chriselles 7y ago
I’d be interested to learn if advances in digital computing/controlling potentially solve most of the problems that were seemingly unsolvable in the Soviet era N1 rocket failures.
I’m assuming the inability to control and harmonise 30 rocket engines on the N1 first stage for pitch/yaw contributed significantly to the N1 failures and cancellation.
Will digital computing/control advances control for that and the 42 rocket engines on the SpaceX starships 1st stage?
Or are there other major engineering problems(such as aeronautical/mechanical) to solve as well?
- socialdemocrat 7y agoFalcon Heavy managed 27 rocket engines just fine, so the N1 problems has been solved. In fact I don’t think multiple rocket engines ever was a problem with the N1. Its problems were quite different. SpaceX is able to shut down failing engines quickly, as has been demonstrated so multiple engines don’t present added risk. Vibrations from multiple engines is something they are able to model much easier with computer simulations today.