Comments on: SpaceX studying changes to de-orbit procedures for Dragon service module https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/ Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:50:40 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Formerly known as Skeptic https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/#comment-1490602 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:50:40 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=106317#comment-1490602 I can think of two drawbacks off the top of my head. The first is the larger fuel requirement for the de-orbit burn due to the increased mass. The second is that once the burn is accomplished, you are on the clock to detach the trunk (and achieve proper attitude) before entry. Both of these seem manageable risks given the experience with the hardware.

]]> By: Robert https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/#comment-1490458 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:21:20 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=106317#comment-1490458 What we need is a salvage yard up there. Leave the service modules up there, and then melt them down. Once Starship starts flying, put in place a treaty, that takes into effect 5 years after Starship is in service. This treaty says that all spacecraft, have to be reusable, if they are launched from Earth. But again, this would take effect 5 years after Starship is in service, and is delivering cargo, passenger’s, to LEO, and beyond.

]]> By: Call Me Ishmael https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/#comment-1489891 Mon, 01 Jul 2024 18:22:51 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=106317#comment-1489891 “… the trunk is released before the capsule performs its orbit burn.”

Do they mean de-orbit burn here? (If it is a mistake, I assume it was in the original quotation.)

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/#comment-1489861 Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:44:09 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=106317#comment-1489861 In reply to Blackwing1.

Blackwing1: I am no engineer, but I think SpaceX’s proposed solution is the simpliest and fastest to implement. Also, the trunk is used as a cargo area for bringing up material that doesn’t need to be in a pressurized protected capsule. I suspect this is why it is built so robustly, to protect that material during launch. SpaceX will not wish to lose that capability.

]]> By: Blackwing1 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-studying-changes-to-de-orbit-procedures-for-dragon-service-module/#comment-1489839 Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:18:50 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=106317#comment-1489839 This may be a very dumb question, but have they considered the possibility of re-engineering the service module (changing materials, lightening the structure, etc.) so that it DOES burn up completely on re-entry? It would appear to a non-space engineer that it may be somewhat over-built for its function as currently designed.

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