Re: SpaceX Aims For 2009 Re-usability Demo



Jochem Huhmann wrote:
This would be a good point to finally try active cooling. Let the fuel
tank heat up and design in pressure-controlled valves that vent residual
(vaporized) fuel over the skin of the stage, cooling it and protecting
it from the plasma. I have always thought that this is the best way to
get anything mainly consisting of large and nearly empty fuel tanks
intact through reentry.

But you are going to have to keep it stable as far as orientation goes during reentry, and that's probably going to mean spinning it up so a nose-mounted heatshield/active cooling system stays pointy-end first as it comes in...given it's shape that may not be easy.
Since the only expensive things on it are the guidance electronics and engine, it might be smarter to mount the electronics back at the tail end of the stage near the engine, and just have that section come down via parachute while the propellant tankage is allowed to burn up. That would certainly save a lot of weight on the parachute system.

Pat
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: SpaceX Aims For 2009 Re-usability Demo
    ... tank heat up and design in pressure-controlled valves that vent residual ... get anything mainly consisting of large and nearly empty fuel tanks ... nose-mounted heatshield/active cooling system stays pointy-end first as ... end of the stage near the engine, and just have that section come down ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: The effect of cold fuel on engine power
    ... in the pit stops? ... If there was no rule set on cooling, how could they ensure that around ... something along the lines of "the temperature of the fuel as delivered ...
    (rec.autos.sport.f1)
  • Honda Generator in MH
    ... I recall reading that the quiet Honda's ... replace an Onan. ... There were fuel or cooling issues. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Very noisy fuel pump
    ... Letting the fuel go low lets ... > pump heat up and increases the chance of it failing. ... cooling in 100 deg weather when fuel temps rise and there's limited ... running the tank low makes the job a LOT easier! ...
    (rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang)
  • Re: Very noisy fuel pump
    ... Letting the fuel go low lets ... >> pump heat up and increases the chance of it failing. ... > cooling in 100 deg weather when fuel temps rise and there's limited ... running the tank low makes the job a LOT easier! ...
    (rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang)