Elon on Twitter: Newest nosecone won’t be strictly coupled to ship serial number, could just be used as a manufacturing pathfinder.
twitter.com/elonmusk/status/12540129621609922...
twitter.comPosted Apr 25, 2020, 11:52 AM UTC
15025
twitter.comSo, does that mean both the nosecones could not be used with an SNx prototype, and instead they could have welded them just as a test or a practical exercise for workers? (sorry, I'm not an english native speaker, so I'm just trying to double check my understandment)
9
Yep, that’s what it sounds like. Might be put on a tank, or might not. They don’t know yet. If it is put on a tank, they don’t know which one.
13
It’s amazing to me how much Musk knows about and is involved with SpaceX (maybe he’s just a really good spokesman). It’s not his only business, there are literal rocket scientists doing the heavy lifting, yet he seems intimately involved and does a great job bridging the gap between the experts and the rest of us
2
Elon is the lead engineer.
14
He truly is the lead engineer, and a few nights ago was up at 2:00 AM working with the welding experts on better horizontal welds to join the rings. Has been living in Boca Chica Village for short stretches, and recently maybe not so short.
A former top employee was on an interview and said Elon could literally talk expertly on advanced alloys (SpaceX), turn to the next guy, and instantly talk expertly on battery chemistry (Tesla).
9
Then turn to Snoop Dogg and talk expertly about blunts....
2
Vastly different than blue origin. Bezos is probably doing nothing but supplying money. I hope he found a good Elon to hire for it.
8
I mean, he does have a physics degree. As much as he likes to flap his mouth on twitter about things occasionally, he has some real credentials. Physics degrees are great - they often lead to a 'first principles' approach to tackling problems.
3
Makes sense. They aren't going to put one onto a ship until it's needed, and by the time it's needed they may have built another one that is higher quality or a changed design to support e.g. slightly different front flaps.
Still really curious when we'll see something related to a cargo door. On the one hand it's not really important right now, on the other hand it is such a difficult structural part of the nose that I don't think they would want to wait too long to incorporate it.
But maybe they are still plenty busy with aero surfaces and landing legs.
Well said
Pathfinder could mean they plan to cut a door shape in this one. But probably best to do that after they get a new one with flaps ready in time for SN5.
Nah, no cargo door until after they reach orbit. That won’t happen earlier than SN7.
I’m not so sure. If they can launch 400 star links it doesn’t matter so much if they land it, the flight pays for itself.
Why would they put 400 satellites on a vehicle that has yet to reach orbit?
I didn't expect them to fly it, just cut up a nose cone (that would never be used if they get a version with flaps ready in time) and see how it behaves and could be handled. One interesting option is to make closed rings like now but do weld the door edges on the inside, weld in a hinge first, then cut to door loose when the rocket is mostly welded together. That should make it easier to ensure that everything is lined up at the door edges and the hinge is aligned correctly.