4 ms·
Further reply, this question was just asked and answered on the new live-stream. Official response from SpaceX: Superdraco thrusters are completely inhibited o
by paranoidrobot 6y ago
Further reply, this question was just asked and answered on the new live-stream.
Official response from SpaceX: Superdraco thrusters are completely inhibited once the launch is sucessful.
So, no, not even as a backup.
Also, one other thing I remembered - the draco and superdraco thrusters require different pressurisation levels for their fuel systems. Before launch, the system is put into a high pressure mode, to enable launch escape. After they make orbit, the system is depressurised back to enable the draco thrusters to operate.
So they'd need to have time to re-pressurise the system, too.
- anticensor 6y agoRepressurisation hardware has to exist anyway to have restartability (it takes 15 minutes to switch to high pressure feed, 15 seconds to low pressure feed). Do you know which component has inhibition affected? SW only? Blown fuse? Something different? Certainly not a jettisoned part, because this vehicle is planned to be reused after minor refurbishment. PS re repressurisation failures: If it becomes absolutely necessary, a procedure could well be devised to operate the larger thrusters at a lower flow rate, albeit with a diminished efficiency and thrust.
- paranoidrobot 6y ago> Do you know which component has inhibition affected? SW only? Blown fuse? Something different? Certainly not a jettisoned part, because this vehicle is planned to be reused after minor refurbishment. They didn't elaborate, it was a 30 second response.