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2014-05-24 Science & Technology
SASC Adopts Amendment Prohibiting Russian Rocket Engine
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Posted by 3dc 2014-05-24 03:04|| || Front Page|| [1 views ]  Top

#1 I should have pointed out that making the RD-180 might be wishful thinking on the part of Atlas 5 supporters as this nay-sayer points out:



I think that would depend on just what "we have demonstrated that we can build this engine" actually means. What exactly did they "demonstrate"?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32675.msg1202647#msg1202647

has a file with pics of some of the parts they manufactured.

Thanks for that. The stator and preburner assemblies are CAD models, not fabricated hardware.
Stator vanes are easy to manufacture. I was doing that for P&W engines in the 1970's.
The other 6 items are extremely simple basic shapes that could be milled in a garage.
I see nothing there of any difficulty.
Where's the turbine generator?
Where's the fuel injector?
Where are *any* of the parts that make the RD-180 so unique?

If they had actually made those instead of these non-discript and simple parts then I would have more confidence.
Did they build anything of any difficulty?
Did they duplicate any of the metallurgy that was so unique to the engine?
Did they document any of the assembly specifications?
How much torque was used for bolting assemblies together, and which assemblies?
What was the surface finish value of mating surfaces?

Making more than 1,000 CAD models proves only that the designer can operate CAD software.
Do the CAD models fit together properly? Do those models faithfully duplicate the actual parts? Are the tolerances invoked consistent with the Russian standards? Are there proper geometric constraints on any of them or are these simply surface volumes? What kind of GD&T was invoked? How were the fluid boundaries handled? Were the design disciplines properly integrated, and to what protocols?

I don't know the answer to these, but rolling out such simple-to-make pieces is not proof of the ability to duplicate the engine. That's why I said that I think it would depend on just what "we have demonstrated that we can build this engine" actually means. So far I remain unimpressed because I could have manufactured everything I see there myself in my uncles old machine shop. A pile of simple parts does not an engine make.


Posted by 3dc 2014-05-24 03:54||   2014-05-24 03:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Johann-Dietrich Woerner, chairman of the German Aerospace Center, DLR — Germany’s space agency — said Germany backs full approval of the extension to 2020 and also wants ESA governments to support NASA’s proposed extension of station operations to 2024.
....
France has been less interested in the station than Germany and in the past has conditioned its support on Germany’s continued financial backing of Europe’s Ariane rocket program. That condition remains, but May 20 remarks here by France’s space minister, Genevieve Fioraso, suggest that France is not contesting the extension to 2020.

In a briefing with journalists, Fioraso said France nonetheless has issues with extending its participation to 2024 without an indication from NASA that its support for rocket builder Space Exploration Technologies Corp. will not permit SpaceX to proceed with “dumping, because that’s what it is” of cheap SpaceX rockets on the international market where they compete with Europe’s Ariane 5 vehicle.
Posted by 3dc 2014-05-24 10:28||   2014-05-24 10:28|| Front Page Top

#3 DragonFly approved by FAA for testing at McGregor. DragonRider expected to be tested on same pad.
discussion link
Posted by 3dc 2014-05-24 11:13||   2014-05-24 11:13|| Front Page Top

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