What is the white spray-pattern residue inside these Falcon Heavy nozzles?
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What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
$endgroup$
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official photo, timelapse. See also SpaceX tweet.
I'm thinking it could be related to engine shut-down, but it looks like they are assembling a Falcon Heavy for launch, so wouldn't the nozzles have at least been cleaned after the previous launch?
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
spacex falcon-heavy identify-this-object nozzle merlin-1d
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
edited yesterday
uhoh
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
asked 2 days ago
uhohuhoh
40.6k18151515
40.6k18151515
$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday
$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday
$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
$endgroup$
I believe it is residue from the TEA-TEB starting fluid.
Triethylaluminum combustion produces aluminum oxides, Triethylborane produces boron oxides. Both are shades of white and grey, matching the streaks. Each engine is tested on the stand at McGregor before installation in a booster, and again in the full booster checkout, so there are several opportunities to deposit the waste, even on a new booster.
They have expressed a goal of zero refurbishment before a typical reflight, which seems to include unnecessary cleaning. They likely have enough data on engine reuse to understand the rate it builds up at, and when it may become a problem.
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
answered yesterday
SaibooguSaiboogu
4,2062129
4,2062129
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
$begingroup$
This makes sense (towards zero refurbishment); and the oxides may be quite refractory. I'd wonder if the local change in emissivity could cause temperature gradients and therefore extra stress, but I assume that's been considered.
$endgroup$
– uhoh
yesterday
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Looks like they need those little spike strips that keep pigeons from roosting! Very, very large space-pigeons.
$endgroup$
– Avi Cherry
yesterday