[AR] Re: SpaceX F9 Launch/Update -- Live Link
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2015 23:48:47 -0500 (EST)
On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, David McMillan wrote:
Are the DC-X data for engine life and MTBF public?
As far as I know, not the details. A few facts did get released, notably
at Space Access presentations by the team. P&W had the engines apart only
once, during the rebuild that turned DC-X into DC-XA, which was after
about 20 cycles (assorted ground tests plus 8 flights); they said things
looked "pristine", and that they'd replaced bearings and seals only on
general principles. (Well, general principles plus the fact that some of
the seals are one-assembly-cycle items that must be replaced after
disassembly.)
However, the RL10 is an unusual engine in several ways, and how well this
reads over to (say) Merlins is unclear.
However however, there is clearly no great problem in building big liquid
engines for tens of flights, if you try. The F-1 was specified (and
thoroughly tested to verify that it met the spec) for 20 cycles and 2250s
of operation, just to support development adequately.
Henry
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