SpaceX has test fired its Grasshopper replacement test vehicle.
The competition heats up: SpaceX has test fired its Grasshopper replacement test vehicle.
Unlike Grasshopper, which only had one engine, the Falcon 9R (pronounced “niner”) is the equivalent of a Falcon 9 nine engine first stage. They fired it on the launchpad for 5 seconds in preparation for future vehicle take off and landing tests.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The competition heats up: SpaceX has test fired its Grasshopper replacement test vehicle.
Unlike Grasshopper, which only had one engine, the Falcon 9R (pronounced “niner”) is the equivalent of a Falcon 9 nine engine first stage. They fired it on the launchpad for 5 seconds in preparation for future vehicle take off and landing tests.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I’m only about 150 miles from there (eastern AZ.) I should make a trip!
Actually, the Grasshopper 2/F9R being tested only has three engines installed at the moment, the others are to come later. More than the original Grasshopper which means sufficient thrust to carry a heavier load to higher altitudes for testing, but not yet a complete first stage.
I am assuming you are right. The reason I assumed it was a full first stage is because the article talks about developing a full thrust of 1 million to 1.5 pounds (depending on altitude), which I thought was what the first stage did. Am I in error again?
You are correct that it WILL eventually have all 9 engines, the config being tested at McGregor apparently only has three engines. At some point they will install the other 6 for testing in New Mexico. Exact details are of course scarce.
Otherwise it is supposed to be a full up first stage.
Have you seen a cost quote per engine? It would be interesting to know what Spacex is considering the cost to build a Merlin 1D. One of the changes quoted for the 1D build is simpler, and cheaper to build. Wonder how much difference between 1C and 1D there is.