上周日下午,SpaceX在得克薩斯州啟動了最新星艦助推器的發(fā)動機,同時在運載火箭的發(fā)射臺上測試了新噴水系統(tǒng)。
SpaceX稱,點火測試僅持續(xù)了2.74秒,四個發(fā)動機提前關(guān)閉。發(fā)動機啟動時,噴水系統(tǒng)的水從星艦發(fā)射架下向上噴射。SpaceX簡要提供了測試現(xiàn)場的直播,測試地點在公司位于德克薩斯州博卡奇卡的發(fā)射場“星際基地”(Starbase)。
本次點火是SpaceX為大型外太空星艦火箭系統(tǒng)下次發(fā)射做準(zhǔn)備的重要測試。4月該公司首次試射星艦,結(jié)果未能到達(dá)太空,飛船失控時SpaceX被迫將其摧毀。
新噴水系統(tǒng)主要目的是降低發(fā)射過程中火箭發(fā)動機點火造成的嚴(yán)重影響。為順利進入太空,星艦安裝了龐大的超重型助推器,基座有33臺猛禽發(fā)動機,所有發(fā)動機將在升空時同時點火。
更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容:馬斯克表示,SpaceX星艦大修后機會大增
星艦首次試飛中SpaceX發(fā)現(xiàn),同時點燃多臺猛禽發(fā)動機的力量對發(fā)射臺造成了巨大破壞。盡管剛開始只有30臺猛禽發(fā)動機點火,發(fā)射臺下仍然出現(xiàn)了SpaceX首席執(zhí)行官埃隆·馬斯克所謂的“巖石颶風(fēng)”。大塊混凝土和碎片濺向數(shù)千英尺高的空中,不僅損壞了發(fā)射臺,也導(dǎo)致四周遍布垃圾。
為防止再次爆炸,SpaceX的工程師們在星艦發(fā)射臺下方安裝了鋼板,以轉(zhuǎn)移猛禽發(fā)動機產(chǎn)生的巨大熱量和力道。上周日的測試則顯示SpaceX首次嘗試在發(fā)動機點火同時測試噴水系統(tǒng)。
更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容:SpaceX認(rèn)定鋼板可防止發(fā)射臺爆炸
SpaceX并未迅速澄清點火測試是否成功,不過點火后直播主持人約翰·因斯普魯克表示,星艦“發(fā)射臺看起來狀態(tài)不錯。運載火箭也不錯”。
SpaceX尚未確定星艦第二次試飛日期。4月底,馬斯克曾在推特(Twitter)上一次音頻討論中預(yù)測稱,六到八周后星艦就能準(zhǔn)備好試飛。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:夏林
上周日下午,SpaceX在得克薩斯州啟動了最新星艦助推器的發(fā)動機,同時在運載火箭的發(fā)射臺上測試了新噴水系統(tǒng)。
SpaceX稱,點火測試僅持續(xù)了2.74秒,四個發(fā)動機提前關(guān)閉。發(fā)動機啟動時,噴水系統(tǒng)的水從星艦發(fā)射架下向上噴射。SpaceX簡要提供了測試現(xiàn)場的直播,測試地點在公司位于德克薩斯州博卡奇卡的發(fā)射場“星際基地”(Starbase)。
本次點火是SpaceX為大型外太空星艦火箭系統(tǒng)下次發(fā)射做準(zhǔn)備的重要測試。4月該公司首次試射星艦,結(jié)果未能到達(dá)太空,飛船失控時SpaceX被迫將其摧毀。
新噴水系統(tǒng)主要目的是降低發(fā)射過程中火箭發(fā)動機點火造成的嚴(yán)重影響。為順利進入太空,星艦安裝了龐大的超重型助推器,基座有33臺猛禽發(fā)動機,所有發(fā)動機將在升空時同時點火。
更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容:馬斯克表示,SpaceX星艦大修后機會大增
星艦首次試飛中SpaceX發(fā)現(xiàn),同時點燃多臺猛禽發(fā)動機的力量對發(fā)射臺造成了巨大破壞。盡管剛開始只有30臺猛禽發(fā)動機點火,發(fā)射臺下仍然出現(xiàn)了SpaceX首席執(zhí)行官埃隆·馬斯克所謂的“巖石颶風(fēng)”。大塊混凝土和碎片濺向數(shù)千英尺高的空中,不僅損壞了發(fā)射臺,也導(dǎo)致四周遍布垃圾。
為防止再次爆炸,SpaceX的工程師們在星艦發(fā)射臺下方安裝了鋼板,以轉(zhuǎn)移猛禽發(fā)動機產(chǎn)生的巨大熱量和力道。上周日的測試則顯示SpaceX首次嘗試在發(fā)動機點火同時測試噴水系統(tǒng)。
更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容:SpaceX認(rèn)定鋼板可防止發(fā)射臺爆炸
SpaceX并未迅速澄清點火測試是否成功,不過點火后直播主持人約翰·因斯普魯克表示,星艦“發(fā)射臺看起來狀態(tài)不錯。運載火箭也不錯”。
SpaceX尚未確定星艦第二次試飛日期。4月底,馬斯克曾在推特(Twitter)上一次音頻討論中預(yù)測稱,六到八周后星艦就能準(zhǔn)備好試飛。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:夏林
SpaceX fired up the engines on its latest Starship booster Sunday afternoon in Texas, while simultaneously testing a new water deluge system on the vehicle’s launchpad.
The ignition test lasted just 2.74 seconds, according to SpaceX, and four of the vehicle’s engines shut down early. As the engines fired, water from the deluge system sprayed upward from underneath Starship’s launch mount. SpaceX briefly provided a livestream view of the test, which took place at the company’s Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The ignition served as an important testing milestone for SpaceX as it prepares for the next launch of its massive, deep-space Starship rocket system. The company performed the first test launch of Starship in April. During that flight, Starship failed to reach space, and SpaceX was forced to purposely destroy the vehicle when it started tumbling out of control.
The new water deluge system is designed to dampen the powerful effects caused by igniting the rocket’s engines during launch. Starship’s massive Super Heavy booster, needed to propel the vehicle into space, has 33 Raptor engines at its base — all of which are meant to fire simultaneously at liftoff.
Read more: SpaceX Starship Has Much Better Chance After Overhaul, Musk Says
The force of igniting so many Raptor engines at once proved to be quite damaging to the launchpad, as SpaceX learned during the first test flight of Starship. Though only 30 Raptor engines were initially ignited, they still caused what SpaceX CEO Elon Musk called a “rock tornado” underneath the launchpad. The launch sent chunks of concrete and debris thousands of feet into the air, damaging the pad and littering the nearby landscape.
To prevent another explosive event, SpaceX’s engineers have been installing steel plates underneath Starship’s launchpad, meant to deflect the immense heat and forces caused by the Raptor engines. Sunday’s test marked the first time that SpaceX attempted to test the deluge system while igniting the engines.
Read more: SpaceX Bets Steel Plates Will Keep Launchpad From Blowing Up
SpaceX didn’t immediately clarify if the ignition test was considered a success, however the host of the livestream, John Insprucker, said after the firing that Starship’s “pad looks good. The launch vehicle looks good.”
The company hasn’t yet set a launch date for Starship’s second test flight. In late April, Musk predicted during a Twitter audio discussion that Starship would be ready to fly again in six to eight weeks.