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What tech would you describe as coming from Soviet designs?

by greedo 4y ago

GuB-42 4y ago
It is something Elon Musk himself said and I don't really know the details. But the Soviet were at the forefront of staged combustion engines, of which the Raptor engine famously is. And the "Super Heavy" booster is reminiscent of the N1 rocket, using a large number of small, efficient engines.
- philistine 4y ago
  Giving the N1 as the source of these so-called soviet designs is such a cop-out. The N1 was overtly complicated, poorly planned, didn't even use the same fuel as Starship and had an extra stage. It's comparing two rockets that are kind-of similar in height when you squint and arguing we have to somehow give the soviet the credit. Elon was probably talking about the engines, which the soviets toyed with as a concept, but SpaceX delivered as an existing product.
  - GuB-42 4y ago
    The N1 certainly was a failure, but still, a lot of research went into it. Research that was hidden from the west. What I think Elon Musk and engineers at SpaceX though was: hey, we are not in the cold war anymore, we have access to what the soviet did, so let's pick that up, take the good parts implement them with modern technology. The way I understand it, the USSR was better in some fields, like metallurgy, and made designs that took advantage of it. So now that the US can do even better metallurgy, then maybe take these soviet designs instead of the US designs that were made with material limitations. And also take advantage of, say, better electronics to succeed where the soviet failed. Maybe I am wrong, but that's my interpretation. It is not full credit to the soviet, but more like giving them credit because they couldn't have done it on western technology alone.
    - philistine 4y ago
      You are wrong. The Soviets were better than the US at only one thing: engines, and nothing else really. SpaceX wanted to use Russian rockets initially. They were unable to buy them, and started their own development instead. They were greatly inspired by Russian engine designs, which were very well made, but they have honestly improved and surpassed the Russians at this point. The N1 has no connection with Starship. The only similar thing is the amount of engines, but Starship uses a different fuel which means a completely different plumbing technology. They have nothing in common. I mean, have you heard about that whole coming back part?

What tech would you describe as coming from Soviet designs?

by greedo 4y ago

What tech would you describe as coming from Soviet designs?

It is something Elon Musk himself said and I don't really know the details. But the Soviet were at the forefront of staged combustion engines, of which the Raptor engine famously is. And the "Super Heavy" booster is reminiscent of the N1 rocket, using a large number of small, efficient engines.

philistine 4y ago
Giving the N1 as the source of these so-called soviet designs is such a cop-out. The N1 was overtly complicated, poorly planned, didn't even use the same fuel as Starship and had an extra stage. It's comparing two rockets that are kind-of similar in height when you squint and arguing we have to somehow give the soviet the credit. Elon was probably talking about the engines, which the soviets toyed with as a concept, but SpaceX delivered as an existing product.
- GuB-42 4y ago
  The N1 certainly was a failure, but still, a lot of research went into it. Research that was hidden from the west. What I think Elon Musk and engineers at SpaceX though was: hey, we are not in the cold war anymore, we have access to what the soviet did, so let's pick that up, take the good parts implement them with modern technology. The way I understand it, the USSR was better in some fields, like metallurgy, and made designs that took advantage of it. So now that the US can do even better metallurgy, then maybe take these soviet designs instead of the US designs that were made with material limitations. And also take advantage of, say, better electronics to succeed where the soviet failed. Maybe I am wrong, but that's my interpretation. It is not full credit to the soviet, but more like giving them credit because they couldn't have done it on western technology alone.
  - philistine 4y ago
    You are wrong. The Soviets were better than the US at only one thing: engines, and nothing else really. SpaceX wanted to use Russian rockets initially. They were unable to buy them, and started their own development instead. They were greatly inspired by Russian engine designs, which were very well made, but they have honestly improved and surpassed the Russians at this point. The N1 has no connection with Starship. The only similar thing is the amount of engines, but Starship uses a different fuel which means a completely different plumbing technology. They have nothing in common. I mean, have you heard about that whole coming back part?