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#1 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-24 08:56:27

Mr. Musk is adament about using the fewest number of fuel types possible, so much so liquid helium is being replaced by autogenous tank pressurization (figuring out the cooling rate/liquification of the gas is going to be a beast). 

I saw a great animation of BFS landing on Mars ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SCvenRvUVs), it showed the sea level engines being used for landing.....I wonder if that is accurate since the pressure on Mars would be more like a Vaccum (100Pa) than sea level (100,000Pa).    Though I don't think they plan to gimbal the Vacuum engines.

#2 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-23 14:51:47

there is a bad thought, BFS comes down the plume melts a few inches of water, during the time that the fuel is being made that refreezes.  BFS goes to launch and either it can lift the legs, or one or two of the feet break off and stay while the ship takes off!

I don't know how aero gel is manufactured.  Could an automated system deploy the aero gel?  Could it be stored in BFS unexpanded?

#3 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-22 17:21:48

The lander melting though the perma forst....... the Alaskan pipeline solves this with those passive radiators (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construct … member.jpg)

.... but those would look kinda ugly on BFS's pretty little feet.  :-)

#4 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-22 17:17:22

Yes Spacenut exactly.
elderflower the pin whole problem should probably be solved the way that bouncing castles solve it.... expect small wholes in it and just keep blowing in air...if its not too hot use the exhaust from the Sabatier processing plant. 

Does a rip stop version of Mylar exist?  Rip stop is the plastic/cloth stuff used for hanggliders and I think most parashoots.

#5 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-20 23:50:23

The sun shade would be provided by the Mylar balloons since Mylar is highly reflective.  Not too sure how well fit the balloon would be around the [not :-) ] delta wings.  Mr. Musk insisted that those are not delta wings....but man they look like delta wings......

#7 Re: Interplanetary transportation » ISRU propellant production - energy requirement for the BFR? » 2018-01-11 14:29:37

(Newbie alert!)

Thermal Isolation:  When the BFS (the top part of BFR) lands on Mars,  slide a concentric ring (lightGreen) out of the door such that it is like the ring on a finger at the door level.  Then inflate each layer to 110Pa, 120Pa, 130Pa.... 
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Question:
BFS Mars Grasshopper (M2M?):  I would like to know, how far could BFS (85 Tonne, dry) jump from location to location on Mars if it is fueled to perhaps 5% capacity (55 Tonne) while carrying 50 Tonne Payload; probably leaving 0.5% fuel in the fuel system as reserve.

Any good pointers as to where to look to get the reasonable equations and 'rules-of-thumb' for calculating this?

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