Fairing reuse

[Req]

Some very good pictures of the inside of the fairings from Elon Musk's instragram.  I only post them here because there has been so much discussion around extra recovery hardware recently, and because these may be some of the most detailed images of fairings that we know to be are presumably recovery-enabled so far.

[dorkmo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43149.msg1692094#msg1692094

Could the stuff near the top be an area for 3 copv to be mounted? Maybe the fab shop made a reusable half but they later decided not to fit it out with all the plumbing.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/39225582801/in/photostream/

you can see the upper copvs are mounted in the Roadster fairing, while they were not on the iridium-2

looks like they replaced the chute bags at the base with a black tube, i wonder if thats a droge cannon or something?

edit: i'd also note that the roadster fairings dont yet have all their standard hardware installed, so this is kind of a "dummy" encapsilation photo shoot. there could be more recovery/chute devices than we are seeing here.

[Dave G]

Mr. Steven is currently underway at 15 knots just east of Catalina Island, destination reading as Guadalupe Island, which i'd say is in approximate area for a fairing recovery with extended stage 1 burn (600km downrange).

Does anyone have more news on the fairing recovery attempt last night?

[scdavis]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43149.msg1692094#msg1692094

you can see the upper copvs are mounted in the Roadster fairing, while they were not on the iridium-2

looks like they replaced the chute bags at the base with a black tube, i wonder if thats a droge cannon or something?

I see two cylinders near the top of the left fairing and one at the bottom of the right fairing -- is this what you're saying are copv's for cold gas thrusters?

Black tube... far bottom-left corner of the left fairing?

Are there pics in the forums of the inside of previous fairings for comparison? I haven't been able to find them.

[nacnud]

I see two cylinders near the top of the left fairing and one at the bottom of the right fairing -- is this what you're saying are copv's for cold gas thrusters?

The ones on the left fairing are, I think, for cold gas thrusters. Remember only one fairing has recovery hardware installed. They are also in the right place center of gravity wise for a falling fairing. You can see some pipes near the top of the left fairing that could be supplying gas to thrusters. The ones on the right power the separation pushers, you can follow the pipes to each separation mechanism.

Black tube... far bottom-left corner of the left fairing?

Yes, parachutes would depoy from that area and probably aren't installed yet. I don't know what the corrugated black tubes are, perhaps umbilicals to supply the payload with conditioned air etc. I've no insider info, just what I can see in the pics.

[Johnnyhinbos]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43149.msg1692094#msg1692094

you can see the upper copvs are mounted in the Roadster fairing, while they were not on the iridium-2

looks like they replaced the chute bags at the base with a black tube, i wonder if thats a droge cannon or something?

I see two cylinders near the top of the left fairing and one at the bottom of the right fairing -- is this what you're saying are copv's for cold gas thrusters?

Black tube... far bottom-left corner of the left fairing?

Are there pics in the forums of the inside of previous fairings for comparison? I haven't been able to find them.

I think the black tubes are for distribution of environmental control (HVAC). You see they terminate at a bulkhead - i.e. the attachment point for the fairing umbilical. This would be asymmetrical because I believe there's only one umbilical not a matched set...

[dorkmo]

i guess theres a lot of black cylinders around

heres the one im thinking about. i thought it was interesting that this is previously where what was thought to be the chute bags were

[Johnnyhinbos]

i guess theres a lot of black cylinders around

heres the one im thinking about. i thought it was interesting that this is previously where what was thought to be the chute bags were

One interesting thing about that area is the two angled "channels" that are masked off in small squares. To me those look like channels under which parachute canopy lines run. Similar to what's seen on the outside of a Dragon capsule.  they angle towards the top of that black cylinder - which could perhaps be a drogue cannon?

[nacnud]

i guess theres a lot of black cylinders around

heres the one im thinking about. i thought it was interesting that this is previously where what was thought to be the chute bags were

One interesting thing about that area is the two angled "channels" that are masked off in small squares. To me those look like channels under which parachute canopy lines run. Similar to what's seen on the outside of a Dragon capsule.  they angle towards the top of that black cylinder - which could perhaps be a drogue cannon?

Exactly what I was thinking. I couldn't see where the bridle might be mounted at the top of the left fairing though.

[Lar]

whether that drogue cannon actually is one or not, it does seem to stick a ways inwards, perhaps even enough to impinge the payload envelope? What helps is that it's at the very bottom where the envelope tapers inward diagonally.

[garcianc]

whether that drogue cannon actually is one or not, it does seem to stick a ways inwards, perhaps even enough to impinge the payload envelope? What helps is that it's at the very bottom where the envelope tapers inward diagonally.

Looking at the Falcon 9 User's Guide, it looks like that would fall outside of the dynamic envelope (if I am looking at the picture correctly).

[cscott]

If I'm reading that diagram correctly, they'll sell you space below the adapter ring (where the drogue would go) if the price is right.

I expect the price would approach $6 million if your desired volume impinged on the recovery hardware.

[Flying Beaver]

Mr Steven is tracking back to port now at 18 knots. Current ETA 1-2am local (PT) tomorrow morning, approx 10 hours from now.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Mr Steven is tracking back to port now at 18 knots. Current ETA 1-2am local (PT) tomorrow morning, approx 10 hours from now.

Looking a bit later now, but still doing 18 knots and about to pass St Clemente Island. Now within range of land based detection so visible on MarineTraffic etc without subscription.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Mr Steven is now passing Santa Catalina Island, so on the home stretch. Current ETA is 04:30 local (12:30 UTC).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

ETA was a bit off! Mr Steven is now in the harbour about to enter the East channel, so near its berth.

[sevenperforce]

I've got Mr. Steven and NRC Quest both stopped at what looks like their dock. Searching for port cams.

This is the only one I've found, and of course it's way too far...

[cscott]

Planet Lab does a pass at 10am local each day, if I understand correctly.  Maybe they would post an image?

[meekGee]

I'm not optimistic.  The 4 am return time is not helping.  Hope Mr. Steven is not dinged or scratched.

[sevenperforce]

I'm not optimistic.  The 4 am return time is not helping.  Hope Mr. Steven is not dinged or scratched.

Yeah, you'd think SOMETHING would have leaked by now.

Ah, well, it took a while to get ASDS landings down.