2 ms·

Perhaps the acoustics are different when the engines are actually accelerating a rocket, rather than held down on a test stand? Presumably, a test stand needs t

Perhaps the acoustics are different when the engines are actually accelerating a rocket, rather than held down on a test stand? Presumably, a test stand needs to direct all the sustained power outward horizontally in order to keep from being destroyed. A launch stand only needs to withstand exposure to high power for a few seconds, a relatively modest amount of total energy. Once the rocket is released and in the air, ideally all of the power is turning into kinetic energy rather than acoustic or thermal.

brookst 4y ago
Yes! Those are all reasonable and plausible. It would have been great to have a discussion rather than banning the content because it dared to question SpaceX. At the very least, it was only because I happened to see the post before it was removed that I even knew that the February test produced between 10x and 100x as much sound as estimates suggested. As it stands, I don't know if your explanations are spot-on and the actual sound pressure will be as SpaceX estimates, and most people don't even know if there's a question about it. That doesn't seem... ideal, for the principles HN purports to support.
- sgtnoodle 4y ago
  I don't know about what happened with the HN thread. I worked at SpaceX for 3 years 10 years ago, though, and at least at the time I didn't observe any hint of intentional impropriety. I personally was in a handful of meetings with NASA folk, and not only was I brutally honest with them, but I can also say that there was no one pressuring me to do otherwise. On the contrary, not that I can provide details, but I witnessed one person immediately getting fired for being less than radically honest in their external communication. I maintain a very high ethical standard for the people I choose to associate with personally and professionally. I would happily go back to working at SpaceX if there was good alignment with my personal goals. It seems unlikely since I now have kids and appreciate infinitely flexible work life balance, but I do look back fondly on my years at SpaceX. Financially and career wise, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. I don't feel taken advantage of at all. Viewed as an investment, I can only describe my experience as a cornucopia of riches.

brookst 4y ago

Yes! Those are all reasonable and plausible. It would have been great to have a discussion rather than banning the content because it dared to question SpaceX. At the very least, it was only because I happened to see the post before it was removed that I even knew that the February test produced between 10x and 100x as much sound as estimates suggested. As it stands, I don't know if your explanations are spot-on and the actual sound pressure will be as SpaceX estimates, and most people don't even know if there's a question about it. That doesn't seem... ideal, for the principles HN purports to support.

sgtnoodle 4y ago
I don't know about what happened with the HN thread. I worked at SpaceX for 3 years 10 years ago, though, and at least at the time I didn't observe any hint of intentional impropriety. I personally was in a handful of meetings with NASA folk, and not only was I brutally honest with them, but I can also say that there was no one pressuring me to do otherwise. On the contrary, not that I can provide details, but I witnessed one person immediately getting fired for being less than radically honest in their external communication. I maintain a very high ethical standard for the people I choose to associate with personally and professionally. I would happily go back to working at SpaceX if there was good alignment with my personal goals. It seems unlikely since I now have kids and appreciate infinitely flexible work life balance, but I do look back fondly on my years at SpaceX. Financially and career wise, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. I don't feel taken advantage of at all. Viewed as an investment, I can only describe my experience as a cornucopia of riches.