Falcon 9 Upper Stage

For flight two, under assembly at SpaceX.

Around the rim of the fuel tank are connection points for stage separation.

View from other side below…

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Comments

Dr DAD says:

Okay, so I imagine this is not a new lens for your 5D!
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Oh, it does look like a fixed 2300mm, f1.2

Here's the flip side though, looks like a fish-eye:

Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Dr DAD says:

Haha...it actually does. Imagine the photos you could get with that! Would require one hell of a tripod though.
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Leino88 says:

yup ... hand-held, you'd really have to lock that elbow up against yer body.
:P
what will actually be occupying the innards of this upper stage, just fuel??
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Yes, like the booster stage, but with one Merlin engine instead of nine. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material and manufacturing techniques. (more info)

The payload rides on top. The first flight will be with a Dragon capsule. It can take cargo, and eventually a crew of seven, to the ISS.
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

skeptical thinker says:

Commercial launch vehicles as SpaceX's Falcon 9
could be a better strategy for ferrying crew
to the ISS, instead the NASA Ares I project.
The rival alternative is Atlas V rocket with
Genesis II capsule from Bigelow Aerospace.
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

rocketmavericks says:

Do you know how they handle the separation energetics? HMX charges? Are their separation thrusters inside after the mechanical coupling is separated, to separate the tank from the rest of the vehicle? They often use solid propellant motors (Usually a couple M or N class motors.) Is that the case here?

We have a similar problem with our new two stage design. Explosive bolts is an option, but we need to be handling high explosives to accomplish this which adds costs and complicates safety. I have been toying with a thermite configuration inside a bolt that is configured to fail upon compromising it thermally. Would be interesting to learn exactly how the separation system works.
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

ugordan says:

@rocketmavericks: It's the same mechanism as with Falcon 1 - explosive bolts (wider black things in image above?) fire and physically separate the stage connection then pneumatic pushers (3 units? narrower black things above) push them apart.

I believe Delta II uses a similar system, no retrorockets involved etc.
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Canon PowerShot G9.
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Falcon 9 Upper Stage

Comments

Dr DAD says:

jurvetson says:

Dr DAD says:

Leino88 says:

jurvetson says:

skeptical thinker says:

rocketmavericks says:

ugordan says:

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