Space X

[Seeker]

I have not seen much information about this in the UK media but Space X launched their Falcon Heavy rocket (the one with 27 engines) successfully today. After launch they landed both side boosters back at the Cape, making it the 150th and 151st time they have done it successfully. The centre core needed all its fuel for the payload's designated orbit so it will not be recovered.

I still get a kick watching both boosters land side by side.

Falcon Heavy is currently the most powerful operational rocket with more than 5 million pounds of thrust. NASA's SLS will up that to 8.8 million (if successful).

[Sir Trev]

It's a fascinating area of aeronautics and I'm sure a launcn is an amazing spectacle to watch live in person. To boldly go, as someone once said...

[keith_d]

I've watched a few videos on Youtube about how rocket engines work - if you have some time to waste it's jolly interesting.

Pumping cryogenic fuel isn't trivial. Liquid oxygen boils at minus 183C, and liquid methane at minus 161C. So the pumps have to be made from exotic alloys to withstand these low temperatures. Then they have to pump litres per second of these liquids into the combustion chamber.

To power the pumps small amounts of fuel is combusted. So at the other end of the pump shaft is a high temperature turbine. I'm jolly glad I don't have to design the bearings for that environment.

[embee]

....... I'm jolly glad I don't have to design the bearings for that environment.
... it could almost be described as rocket science.