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At some point there must have been a mission design meeting for this test where they decided on fuel levels in the booster. Just as much as needed to get to max
by usrusr 7y ago
At some point there must have been a mission design meeting for this test where they decided on fuel levels in the booster. Just as much as needed to get to max Q? Just like a real launch that would put the capsule into orbit and land the booster? Something in between that creates a nice fireball but not too wasteful?
(and on an entirely unrelated note, I really hate watching those parachutes bounce off each other. I know it must be perfectly safe or else it wouldn't have been the unquestioned method off choice for at least half a century, but it looks so uncontrolled it gives me nausea)
- greglindahl 7y agoWell, the decision was to fully fuel everything, including the second stage. Which had no engine.
- Klathmon 7y agoAnd even thought it had no engine, it had a "mass simulator" to replace it.
- joshvm 7y agoYou want to test this stuff as realistically as possible. Changing the amount of fuel means changing launch weight which means (presumably) changes in throttle profile etc. The control systems are also probably designed with a certain weight to reach orbit so it's possible that an unusually light rocket would be unstable. I'm not sure whether this would actually make a difference, but if you know it works at nominal fuel weight then you have some confidence it would work during a real launch.