tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482874718753227701.post3268208594060076873..comments2023-10-11T02:32:45.016-07:00Comments on Spacepirations: SpaceX Glitches - Countering Over-EngineeringAmnon I. Govrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16992092543031860218noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482874718753227701.post-82080751627235530072013-08-07T15:24:46.156-07:002013-08-07T15:24:46.156-07:00Thanks for your comment, Doug!
So far SpaceX have ...Thanks for your comment, Doug!<br />So far SpaceX have shown they can walk that line of creating a robust enough system. I completely agree that the stakes are higher with larger, heavier, more expensive and more alive payloads.<br />Glitches are a part of the game, and are to be expected from complex systems. If they continue their streak of successes, I'd prefer seeing that the same problem doesn't come up twice, however at the same time it is encouraging that 2 parachutes out of 3 are enough or that 8 engines out of 9 are enough - it's system-design robustness and reliability vs specific component robustness.<br />Obviously I am implicitly assuming or at least hoping that they won't have a catastrophic cascade of failures. Going back to software, there are cases when after release a cascade of events leads to a recall or urgent fix, which in case of a rocket catastrophe is regretfully not an option.Amnon I. Govrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16992092543031860218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482874718753227701.post-11441735325074862132013-08-06T10:27:33.162-07:002013-08-06T10:27:33.162-07:00The approach works as long as SpaceX is launching ...The approach works as long as SpaceX is launching cargo vehicles filled with clothing, food and other easily replaceable commodities. This is why the commercial cargo program is a perfect vehicle for SpaceX to gain experience and make mistakes. NASA is not going to be overly surprised if they lose a Dragon (as almost happened on the last flight). Nor will the ISS program really be much affected unless SpaceX and Orbital start losing a lot of freighters.<br /><br />This also explains why the military is a bit leery of using SpaceX until the bugs are worked out. Those satellites are worth a billion dollars or more and are essential to military readiness and national security. The costs of losing one -- and replacing it -- far outweighs any money they would save. You want rockets of extremely high reliability with proven, set designs that have flown over and over again. <br /><br />And it goes without saying that NASA will want the same thing with commercial crew. <br /><br /> D. Messiernoreply@blogger.com