What is the white spray-pattern residue inside these Falcon Heavy nozzles?
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What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
$endgroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
edited 3 hours ago
uhoh
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
asked 4 hours ago
uhohuhoh
40.5k18149511
40.5k18149511
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
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1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
$endgroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
answered 2 hours ago
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,1362129
4,1362129
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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