I would love to know how they prevented flow separation when they fired a vacuum optimized engine at sea level! Normally the pressure at the end of a vacuum nozzle is so low that the ambient air pressure will separate the flame from the nozzle and destroy the engine! @elonmusk
I would love to know how they prevented flow separation when they fired a vacuum optimized engine at sea level! Normally the pressure at the end of a vacuum nozzle is so low that the ambient air pressure will separate the flame from the nozzle and destroy the engine! @elonmusk
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk Rvac doesn't really have a giant expansion ratio, and there may be extra supports on the engine bell with early Rvacs. Flow separation will likely be greatly reduced with Rvac 2 due to higher chamber pressure and possibly lower expansion
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk Already answered since months ago at McGregor
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk The expansion ratio isn’t quite big enough to cause flow separation. Didn’t he say that during your tour interview?
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk Engine isn’t fully optimized for vacuum, it’s at the point where they can just barely test at sea level without flow separation and issues. Less efficient, but much more practical.
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk Has anyone covered how Mechazilla will catch that much weight? It boggles my mind. The booster is around 400,000lbs.? And are the arms around 200,000lbs.? Does the weight somehow get distributed to the base of Mechazilla? Is there a video explaining this somewhere?
@Erdayastronaut @elonmusk Test to short for flow sep to hurt anything.
@Erdayastronaut Raptor has a very high chamber pressure, which in turn allows for a large expansion ratio nozzle without flow separation at sea level