tater Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 Looks like more engine testing coming up: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted May 4, 2022 Author Share Posted May 4, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCgothic Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 (edited) New update: These are impressive stats. Oxygen-Rich Staged Combustion, so not surprising it's performing above Merlin. It's not as high as RD-180 though. Wonder what the TWR is like. Edited May 25, 2022 by RCgothic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted February 22, 2023 Author Share Posted February 22, 2023 Launcher will be working on their tug, not a launch vehicle. Presumably subsumed into Vast name wise at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSchmuckatelli Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 I'm confused. If they had a working prototype that might exceed Merlin performance... why stop and work on a tug? No market for another launch engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted February 22, 2023 Author Share Posted February 22, 2023 39 minutes ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said: No market for another launch engine? I'd think that's a big part. The smallsat market is pretty marginal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AckSed Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 (edited) From the press release, it seems Launcher were already working on the space tug. Now the company with ambitions of making a space station has the tools and talent to build a kerelox engine and space tug with high vacuum performance. I wish them well. Edit: Oh dear. The first launch of the space tug essentially went down with all hands. Edited February 22, 2023 by AckSed Adding link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 On 2/22/2023 at 5:41 AM, AckSed said: From the press release, it seems Launcher were already working on the space tug. Now the company with ambitions of making a space station has the tools and talent to build a kerelox engine and space tug with high vacuum performance. I wish them well. Edit: Oh dear. The first launch of the space tug essentially went down with all hands. From the ars article, they had an issue with the GPS antenna system on the spacecraft. They plan to try again this summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted May 10, 2023 Author Share Posted May 10, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AckSed Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 Arstechnica article on the Vast station. My key takeaway here is that it's going to draw on the Dragon capsule for life-support: The Dragon spacecraft will remain powered on the entire time it is attached to Haven-1, providing some of the consumables such as air or water and other services needed to keep humans alive. By leaning on SpaceX and its experience developing these life support systems for Dragon, Vast will attempt to develop a space station on a quicker timeline. A big, airtight can with solar panels, a window and docking port would indeed be simpler. Unless they design for it, it would essentially freeze like Salyut 7 once Dragon disconnects, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted May 11, 2023 Author Share Posted May 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, AckSed said: A big, airtight can with solar panels, a window and docking port would indeed be simpler. Unless they design for it, it would essentially freeze like Salyut 7 once Dragon disconnects, though. It says Dragon will provide part of the life support. Presumably it stays active without humans aboard as the needs are far reduced when not occupied? Roadmap: https://www.vastspace.com/roadmap 2025: 2028 (7m dia, launched w/SS—though this might also be launched agnostic with NG (smart)): 2030s: The above spins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 Some better/different images Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 On 5/11/2023 at 12:35 PM, tater said: It says Dragon will provide part of the life support. Presumably it stays active without humans aboard as the needs are far reduced when not occupied? With those panels, if there are enough batteries, I imagine it could stay above freezing on its own with a simple thermostat, a single heating element and a circulation fan ...if it can maintain attitude on it's own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 9 minutes ago, darthgently said: ...if it can maintain attitude on it's own Has RCS... unsure how it would be replenished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 1 hour ago, tater said: Has RCS... unsure how it would be replenished. Would require resupply periodically. Maybe automated refueling by that outfit that wants to make a biz out of refueling satellites. Or just from visiting Dragons. Proposed sign near hatch: Be conscientious! Leave full RCS tanks and adequate toilet paper when you depart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 49 minutes ago, darthgently said: Would require resupply periodically. Maybe automated refueling by that outfit that wants to make a biz out of refueling satellites. Or just from visiting Dragons. Proposed sign near hatch: Be conscientious! Leave full RCS tanks and adequate toilet paper when you depart! Yeah, but Dragon does not have that capability. Maybe inert gas? How much RCS does it really need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, tater said: Yeah, but Dragon does not have that capability. Maybe inert gas? How much RCS does it really need? Guessing: Unlike ISS, which is constantly occupied and constantly changing orientation (I gather) to present instruments earthward or to optimize thermal dissipation, I presume, an unoccupied VAST would only need to keep attitude for PV optimal angle, and to possibly orient to a docking craft and cancel rotation for docking so would probably not need much fuel. But having the dockee orient its nearest port to the docking craft port is how I often do it in a kOS/KSP dockee script. Pretty sure ISS does not do this, but VAST may I suppose. It can save the docking craft a lot of fuel by avoiding having to navigate an approach from the correct side Edited June 4, 2023 by darthgently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnemoe Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 11:33 PM, darthgently said: Guessing: Unlike ISS, which is constantly occupied and constantly changing orientation (I gather) to present instruments earthward or to optimize thermal dissipation, I presume, an unoccupied VAST would only need to keep attitude for PV optimal angle, and to possibly orient to a docking craft and cancel rotation for docking so would probably not need much fuel. But having the dockee orient its nearest port to the docking craft port is how I often do it in a kOS/KSP dockee script. Pretty sure ISS does not do this, but VAST may I suppose. It can save the docking craft a lot of fuel by avoiding having to navigate an approach from the correct side Yes much lighter station so less need for RCS. Probably depend more on reaction wheels? Now that I see as more of an problem, only one docking port as I can see so they will need to carry all they need for the stay with them in the dragon. Including extra RCS in the cabin. Yes you could undock the current dragon and dock another crew dragon with supplies but that would be very bad if that docking failed and damaged the stations only docking adapter. Now it could be that the first station is designed as an testbed with an lifespan of 1-3 missions only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted June 7, 2023 Share Posted June 7, 2023 1 hour ago, magnemoe said: Yes much lighter station so less need for RCS. Probably depend more on reaction wheels I think you'd still need RCS to periodically desaturate the reaction wheels. Or have Dragon visits often enough to do that. Another element missing from KSP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnemoe Posted June 7, 2023 Share Posted June 7, 2023 50 minutes ago, darthgently said: I think you'd still need RCS to periodically desaturate the reaction wheels. Or have Dragon visits often enough to do that. Another element missing from KSP Without crew it just need power to keep temperature manage, you could always do some 360 degree flips to reset your build up torque. I assume Hubble does this, I rotate 270 degree to next target to reduce build up torque. For GEO satellites I assume station keeping eat most of their fuel and desaturation is an minor part of it or they could go offline and flip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) Resurrecting this thread, Bring out yer dead! I'm not dead yet! Very beautiful plume. I didn't read the whole thread of comments, but I wonder what the chamber pressure is? Edited April 6 by darthgently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrandedonEarth Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) I’m assuming to get the blue flame with kerolox (although that tweet doesn’t specify lox), they must be running lean (oxy-rich). I believe the usual glowy orange of kerolox exhaust is from glowing soot (unburnt carbon) particles Edited April 6 by StrandedonEarth Autocowrecked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthgently Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 1 hour ago, StrandedonEarth said: I’m assuming to get the blue flame with kerolox (although that tweet doesn’t specify lox), they must be running lean (oxy-rich). I believe the usual glowy orange of kerolox exhaust is from glowing soot (unburnt carbon) particles Yes, they are definitely running oxy-rich Sure looks like a lot of plumbing there. Might be angle and lens of camera making it seem more than it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AckSed Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 Isn't the E-2 one of the few non-Russian engines using oxygen cooling? And don't they have a Russian propulsion engineer? That might explain it running oxygen-rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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