Why the Vulcan's Solid Nozzles Don’t Gimbal - Smarter Every Day 297

SmarterEveryDay
28 Apr 202436:43

Summary

TLDRIn this fascinating video, the host and his father get an exclusive, up-close tour of the Vulcan Rocket with Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Vulcan Rocket, a significant development for ULA as they retire their Delta and Atlas class rockets, is set to be launched for the first time. The video offers a detailed look at the rocket's construction, including its liquid and solid engines, and the various technical aspects of rocketry. Tory Bruno shares insights into the aerospace industry, the challenges of developing new rockets, and the future of space exploration. The host also discusses the importance of the BE4 engines, the complexities of cryogenic fueling, and the acoustic and structural considerations in rocket design. The video concludes with a spectacular slow-motion capture of the Vulcan Rocket's launch, a moment made even more special by the host's shared experience with his father, who contributed to the James Webb Space Telescope.

Takeaways

  • πŸš€ The video features a close-up tour of the Vulcan Rocket on the launch pad, highlighting its development and significance in the aerospace industry.
  • πŸ§‘β€πŸ’Ό Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), is introduced as a key figure in the rocket community, guiding the tour and sharing insights about the Vulcan Rocket.
  • πŸ”§ The Vulcan Rocket is ULA's new launch vehicle, designed to replace the retiring Delta and Atlas class rockets, and is the focus of the video's exploration.
  • πŸ“ The rocket's construction is detailed, including the manufacturing process of its ortho-grid pattern and the use of friction stir-welding for assembly.
  • βš™οΈ The Vulcan utilizes both liquid and solid engines, with the BE-4 engines providing a significant thrust and the GEM 63XL solid motors being the longest monolithic rocket motors ever flown.
  • πŸ”₯ The rocket's design includes fixed nozzles on the solid engines, relying on the liquid engines for control authority, which is a unique approach compared to other rocket designs.
  • 🌊 The importance of the Acoustic Water Suppression System is discussed, which is crucial for managing the intense acoustic energy during launch and protecting both the spectators and the rocket.
  • πŸ› οΈ The video touches on the complexities of rocket engineering, including the challenges of thrust vector control, Pogo oscillations, and Screech phenomena in the combustion chamber.
  • πŸ”© The BE-4 engines are noted for their advanced cooling systems, which include film cooling and the use of 3D printed components for improved heat transfer and cost efficiency.
  • 🎨 The Vulcan Rocket's distinctive red paint job is mentioned, symbolizing the human effort and craftsmanship behind the rocket's construction.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘¦ The personal aspect of the video is emphasized through the host's experience with his father, a former James Webb Space Telescope worker, underscoring the generational impact of space exploration.
  • 🌟 The video concludes with the host's experience of witnessing the Vulcan Rocket's first launch, capturing the moment in slow motion and reflecting on the collective effort and excitement of the event.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the rocket discussed in the video?

    -The rocket discussed in the video is called the Vulcan Rocket.

  • Who is Tory Bruno and what is his role in the rocket community?

    -Tory Bruno is the CEO of United Launch Alliance and is considered a legend in the rocket community. He is an engineer by training and is known for his extensive knowledge and passion for rockets.

  • What are the two types of engines featured on the Vulcan Rocket?

    -The Vulcan Rocket features two liquid engines and two solid engines.

  • Why is the Vulcan Rocket important for United Launch Alliance (ULA)?

    -The Vulcan Rocket is important for ULA because it is set to replace their retiring Delta and Atlas class rockets, which have been the workhorses of the American launch industry.

  • What is the significance of the BE4 engines on the Vulcan Rocket?

    -The BE4 engines are significant because they provide the main thrust for the Vulcan Rocket. They are liquid oxygen and methane engines with thrust vector control, allowing for precise control during the launch.

  • What is the role of the GEM 63XL solid rocket motors on the Vulcan Rocket?

    -The GEM 63XL solid rocket motors provide additional thrust during the launch. They are the longest monolithic rocket motors ever flown, meaning they are not segmented and provide a more weight-efficient design.

  • What is the purpose of the lightning protection system around the rocket?

    -The lightning protection system is designed to protect the rocket from lightning strikes. It consists of four grounded towers connected electrically to a network of cables that surround the launch pad.

  • How does the Vulcan Rocket's design handle the acoustic energy during launch?

    -The Vulcan Rocket uses an Acoustic Water Suppression System to handle the acoustic energy during launch. This system dumps a large amount of water to absorb the sound energy and protect both the spectators and the rocket itself.

  • What is the purpose of the Environmental Control System (ECS) duct on the rocket?

    -The ECS duct is essentially the air conditioning system for the payload. It controls the temperature and humidity to ensure that sensitive payloads, especially optical ones, are kept in optimal conditions.

  • How does the Vulcan Rocket's first stage structure differ from the upper stage?

    -The first stage of the Vulcan Rocket has a rigid structure with an ortho-grid aluminum design. In contrast, the upper stage is not rigid and needs to be pressurized due to its thin stainless steel construction, which is akin to a balloon tank.

  • What is the significance of the red paint on the side of the rocket?

    -The red paint on the side of the rocket serves an aesthetic purpose, making the rocket look more impressive. It is applied by hand and, while it adds some weight, the impact on the rocket's overall performance is negligible for missions with sufficient weight margin.

  • What is the name of the space shuttle displayed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center?

    -The space shuttle displayed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center is named Atlantis.

Outlines

00:00

πŸš€ Introduction to the Vulcan Rocket and Tory Bruno

The video script introduces the audience to a special episode featuring a visit to a rocket launch pad to see the Vulcan Rocket, a new development in the aerospace industry. The host expresses excitement about being accompanied by Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance and a prominent figure in the rocket community. The episode promises an in-depth look at the rocket's development, its significance as ULA phases out older models, and the potential future of rocket launches with the Vulcan.

05:02

🌟 Closer Look at Vulcan's Design and Engineering

This paragraph delves into the technical aspects of the Vulcan Rocket. It discusses the rocket's size, its liquid and solid engine configurations, and the unique design of its solid rocket motors. The conversation highlights the rocket's development process, the challenges of creating monolithic rocket motors, and the importance of the BE4 engines. The paragraph also touches on the rocket's fueling and the complexities of its upper stage, emphasizing the engineering marvel that is the Vulcan Rocket.

10:03

πŸ” Exploring the Vulcan Rocket's Launch Pad Setup

The host and Tory Bruno explore the Vulcan Rocket on the launch pad, discussing the rocket's lightning protection system, the mobile launch platform, and the various technical features that support the launch. They talk about the rocket's size and weight, the positioning of the solid rocket boosters, and the innovative design choices that contribute to the rocket's efficiency and control. The paragraph provides a detailed look at the practical aspects of preparing a rocket for launch.

15:04

🧐 Insights into Rocket Propulsion and Design Challenges

This section focuses on the intricacies of rocket propulsion, particularly the challenges of managing the center of gravity as the rocket burns fuel. It explains the strategic positioning of the solid rocket boosters' thrust and the decision not to use thrust vector control on the solids due to the liquid engines' sufficient control authority. The discussion also touches on the complexities of rocket dynamics at different altitudes and the importance of the BE4 engines' development and testing.

20:11

πŸš€ The BE4 Engine's Development and Its Role in Vulcan

The conversation shifts to the BE4 engines, emphasizing the excitement around their inclusion in the Vulcan Rocket. The paragraph discusses the engines' testing, the importance of their horizontal and vertical testing configurations, and the unique challenges associated with methane engines. It also addresses the solutions implemented to combat combustion instability, such as Screech, and the use of film cooling and other advanced techniques to manage heat transfer effectively.

25:12

πŸ› οΈ Manufacturing Advances and the Future of Rocket Engines

The host and Tory Bruno discuss the manufacturing processes behind the rocket engines, including the shift from handcrafted brazed tubes to machined channels and additive manufacturing. They explore the benefits of these methods in terms of cost, speed, and performance. The paragraph also hints at the use of advanced materials and the potential for further weight reduction and efficiency in engine design.

30:14

🎨 The Vulcan Rocket's Aesthetics and the Cryogenic Fueling Process

This paragraph touches on the cosmetic aspects of the rocket, such as the red paint on its side, and the practical considerations behind such decisions. It also teases an upcoming video on the cryogenic fueling process, emphasizing its complexity and the new insights gained from Tory Bruno's explanations. The host expresses enthusiasm for sharing this knowledge with the audience.

35:16

🌌 The Experience of Witnessing a Rocket Launch

The script concludes with a personal account of the host's experience witnessing the Vulcan Rocket's launch with his father. It describes the preparation, the use of a high-speed camera to capture the event, and the emotional significance of sharing this moment. The paragraph also includes a sponsorship message for Factor, a meal delivery service, and encourages viewers to support the show and try the product.

πŸ“ Selecting a Viewing Spot for the Rocket Launch

The final paragraph briefly mentions the planning for the rocket launch viewing experience. The host is offered a specific screening field to watch the launch, ensuring a clear and compliant vantage point for the event.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Vulcan Rocket

The Vulcan Rocket is a new launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA). It represents a significant shift from their previous Delta and Atlas class rockets, aiming to be more efficient and cost-effective. In the video, the host and his father visit the rocket on the launch pad, emphasizing its importance as a symbol of modern aerospace development. The rocket's first flight is a central focus of the video, highlighting the excitement of witnessing a new era in space travel.

πŸ’‘Tory Bruno

Tory Bruno is the CEO of United Launch Alliance and is portrayed as a central figure in the development of the Vulcan Rocket. He is described as a legend in the rocket community, an engineer by training, and deeply passionate about space and rocketry. His involvement in the video provides a personal connection to the project and offers insights into the technical and strategic aspects of the Vulcan Rocket's development.

πŸ’‘Aerospace Development

The term 'aerospace development' refers to the process of designing, building, and testing aircraft and spacecraft. In the context of the video, it highlights the current renaissance in rocket technology, with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA creating new rockets. The video emphasizes the viewer's opportunity to live in a time where aerospace development is rapidly advancing, and new rockets like the Vulcan are being launched for the first time.

πŸ’‘Liquid Engines

Liquid engines are a type of rocket engine that use liquid propellants. The Vulcan Rocket features two BE-4 engines, which are liquid oxygen and methane-powered. These engines are significant because they offer a high thrust-to-weight ratio and are designed to be more efficient than solid rocket boosters. The video discusses the BE-4 engines' development challenges, such as overcoming combustion instability and Screech, and their importance to the rocket's performance.

πŸ’‘Solid Engines

Solid engines, also known as solid rocket motors, use solid propellants and are depicted in the video as key components of the Vulcan Rocket. The GEM 63XL solid engines are mentioned as being the longest monolithic rocket motors ever flown, meaning they are not segmented and provide a continuous, single-piece thrust. These engines are crucial for the initial lift-off phase, providing the necessary force to get the rocket off the ground.

πŸ’‘Friction Stir Welding

Friction stir welding is a solid-state joining process that uses a non-consumable tool to join materials by generating frictional heat. In the context of the video, this technique is used to join large aluminum plates to form the rigid structure of the rocket's first stage. The process is highlighted as an example of the advanced manufacturing techniques employed in the construction of the Vulcan Rocket.

πŸ’‘Cryogenic Fueling

Cryogenic fueling involves the use of cryogenic liquids, such as liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid methane, which must be stored at extremely low temperatures. The video script discusses the complexities of fueling rockets with cryogenic fuels on Earth and teases a future video dedicated to explaining the process in detail. Cryogenic fuels are used in the Vulcan Rocket to achieve higher energy density and efficiency.

πŸ’‘Acoustic Energy

Acoustic energy refers to the energy of sound waves, which can be significant in the context of a rocket launch. The video mentions the use of an Acoustic Water Suppression System to manage the intense acoustic energy produced during lift-off. This system helps to protect both the spectators and the rocket itself by absorbing and dissipating the sound energy, preventing damage from the high decibel levels.

πŸ’‘Thrust Vector Control

Thrust vector control is the ability to change the direction of the thrust from a rocket engine to control the attitude and trajectory of the rocket. The video explains that the Vulcan Rocket's solid rocket boosters have fixed nozzles and are canted, while the liquid engines have thrust vector control. This design choice simplifies the rocket's control system and allows for more efficient use of the liquid engines' capabilities.

πŸ’‘Pogo Phenomenon

The Pogo phenomenon is a type of oscillation that can occur in the propellant tanks of a rocket during operation. It is named after the pogo stick's jumping motion and is caused by the interaction between the propellant's flow and the vehicle's structure. The video discusses the challenges of managing Pogo in large rockets like the Vulcan and the design features implemented to mitigate its effects.

πŸ’‘Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer. The video mentions the use of 3D printing to create engine components, which offers advantages in terms of speed, cost, and the ability to create complex geometries. The script highlights how 3D printing is used to manufacture cooling channels in rocket engines, which can improve heat transfer and performance.

Highlights

The video features a walkthrough of the Vulcan Rocket on the launch pad with Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance.

Tory Bruno is a renowned figure in the rocket community, known for his engineering background and expertise.

The Vulcan Rocket is a new development in the midst of an aerospace renaissance in America, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origins leading the charge.

The Vulcan Rocket is manufactured with an ortho-grid pattern, showcasing the intricate process from milling to assembly.

The rocket's first vertical assembly and its significance for ULA as they retire their Delta and Atlas class rockets are discussed.

Speculations about a potential buyout of United Launch Alliance and what it could mean for the future of Vulcan rocket launches.

Tory Bruno's passion for rockets is highlighted, showing his enthusiasm for the industry beyond his professional role.

The inclusion of the host's father, who worked on the James Webb space telescope, adds a personal and professional perspective to the tour.

The video captures a unique moment with the rocket before launch, discussing the challenges of recording in windy conditions.

Lightning protection systems around the rocket are explained, including the function of the four towers and their cables.

Details about the Vulcan's dimensions, engine types, and the significance of the GEM 63XL solid rocket motors are provided.

The design choice for fixed and canted solid rocket boosters is discussed for its simplicity and efficiency.

The importance of the BE4 engines, their thrust vector control, and the challenges in testing and development are covered.

The acoustic water suppression system's role in managing the intense acoustic energy during launch is explained.

The environmental control system for the payload, including temperature and humidity control, is described.

The process of moving the rocket from the VIF to the launch pad, including the structure and mechanics involved, is detailed.

The Vulcan rocket's launch is captured in slow motion, providing a unique perspective on the event.

The video concludes with a discussion on the future of space exploration, particularly the significance of cryogenic fueling in orbit.

Transcripts

00:00

In this video, we're going to walk right up to a huge rocket on the launch pad.

00:06

Not only are we going to walk up to it, we're going to walk right

00:08

up to the hot, naughty bits. That's what I call it.

00:10

We've got two liquid engines, two solid engines.

00:13

They've been in development for a really long time.

00:15

And not only are we going to walk right up to it, we're going to walk

00:18

right up to it with the guy over the whole company that did it, Tory Bruno.

00:23

Tory Bruno is a legend in the rocket community.

00:26

He's extremely smart, he's an engineer by training, and and he knows his stuff.

00:31

Here in America, we are right in the middle of an explosion

00:34

of aerospace development.

00:35

There's all kinds of rockets being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origins and

00:40

all these other companies, and they're making new rockets, which is awesome.

00:45

That we are living in an era where new rockets are being developed and

00:48

they're being flown for the first time.

00:50

This rocket that we're going to see today is called the Vulcan Rocket, and this is

00:55

the first time it's ever been flown.

00:57

You may remember in a previous episode of Smarter Every Day, we got to see

01:01

the Vulcan Rocket being manufactured.

01:03

In fact, these are some of the chips that came off of some of those mills

01:07

that were cutting that ortho-grid pattern that would ultimately become the rocket.

01:10

They bump form them, they roll them, they make them into big cylinders.

01:14

The rocket that we're about to see launch, we saw it being made in the factory.

01:18

Oh, those big plates that you saw machined and you saw bent and you saw anodized

01:22

have to get friction stir-welded together into a barrel to form an atlas booster.

01:28

Or in the case of what you see over there, right now is the Vulcan

01:33

first-flight liquid oxygen tank. That's it.

01:35

Okay, so that is the first vertical assembly of Vulcan.

01:40

Right.

01:41

And now we're going to get to see it being flown.

01:43

The Vulcan rocket is especially important for ULA because they're retiring their

01:47

Delta and Atlas class rockets.

01:49

These are workhorses of the American launch industry, and

01:51

they both have great track records of being reliable launch platforms.

01:55

Yes, Tory Bruno is the CEO of United Launch Alliance, and this is

01:59

the first launch of the Vulcan rocket.

02:01

With all that being said, there's speculation in the industry that somebody

02:05

might buy United Launch Alliance.

02:07

If they do, we don't know who's going to be launching Vulcans in the future.

02:10

We know Vulcan is going to persist, but we don't know what company name

02:14

they'll be flying under.

02:15

All that being said, I want you to understand something about Tory Bruno.

02:19

He is a rocket fan through and through.

02:21

I've had private conversations, and he is very kind and excited about other rockets

02:26

in the industry when the cameras are off.

02:29

So don't think of as watching a rocket tour on the pad with a CEO of a company.

02:35

Think about you being able to walk up to a really cool new rocket,

02:40

and you're doing it with one of the smartest, most well-informed

02:43

rocket nerds in the country.

02:44

He's a nerd's nerd, and he's a really fun person to tour a rocket pad with.

02:50

Another thing that makes this really special for me is my dad's going

02:53

to come along, and he's going to help me by being the second camera guy.

02:56

If you've seen my dad in previous videos, you know he's wicked smart.

02:59

I mean, he loves building things, and he worked on the James Webb space telescope.

03:04

So being able to share this with him is a very special thing for me.

03:08

So let's go to Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force station.

03:11

It's two days before launch.

03:12

The only way we can fit this in for Tory is if we did it

03:15

very early in the morning.

03:17

So we found a patch of time right after sunrise or during sunrise,

03:21

actually, and it's extremely windy.

03:23

So it was a little difficult to record sound, but the reveal

03:26

of the rocket is just incredible. So here we go.

03:29

Let's go get Smarter Every Day and go to the pad and

03:32

learn about the Vulcan rocket.

03:38

Okay, here we are before sunrise down in Florida.

03:42

Check this out.

03:45

That is pretty cool looking.

03:48

Yeah, the lights make it look amazing. That's incredible.

03:51

As we drove up on the Vulcan, I was just struck by how awesome this machine is.

03:56

And to know that we had seen it being built in the factory,

03:58

it's just incredible.

04:00

As we drove up, we had to show someone our credentials.

04:02

But I also want you to notice there's large lightning protection system

04:06

towers all around the rocket.

04:08

This is probably the best shot we're going to get of that.

04:10

So remember that for when Tory is talking about it later.

04:13

Also, speaking to Tory, there's a guy around here somewhere

04:16

with a cowboy hard hat on.

04:17

We just got to find him. Hey, Tory.

04:19

Oh, we're going mustache today.

04:21

Someone on the staff has to grow one, and no one stepped up.

04:26

So it's you.

04:27

So this is Volcan.

04:28

Can Can we just go look? Yeah, we can walk right up there.

04:32

I've never seen a BE4.

04:34

I think I may have seen one at Decatur.

04:36

We can go right up underneath. Can we really?

04:38

Yeah, I'll take you underneath platform. Let's do that?

04:40

Yeah, come on.

04:41

Sounds great.

04:42

You've got the patented Tory hard hat. Yes, I do.

04:48

I think at a certain point, they're going to make me wear a hard hat, right?

04:51

Yeah, once we get to the yellow line up there, we'll put a hard hat on you.

04:55

Okay, so before we go further here, can I just look at this?

04:58

So we've got We've got the Vulcan here.

05:01

Let me make sure my focus is working.

05:03

So we have the Vulcan here.

05:05

That cable over the top, that's the lightning protection system?

05:08

[T] Yeah, so you see the four towers and the two sets of cables.

05:12

That is the lightning protection system.

05:14

It's bigger than it looks.

05:17

When you look at that inner square, it looks tight, but it really isn't.

05:20

[D] Really?

05:21

[T] But that is the one thing that the astronauts tell me make them nervous.

05:24

They feel like that feels small. A confinement?

05:28

But it's not. We'll go right through the center of that.

05:30

[D] Oh, it's amazing. Okay, and what is this tower over here?

05:33

[T] It's all four towers.

05:35

So the four towers are grounded, and then they're connected electrically

05:40

to these cables that you see that surround the whole launch pad.

05:43

So that whole thing is lightning protection.

05:46

[D] Okay.

05:46

[T] This tower, that tower, that tower, that tower.

05:50

[D] Got it. [T] It looks small.

05:51

It's not.

05:52

Everything's bigger than it looks because there's nothing

05:54

around here to measure it by.

05:55

That rocket is 202 feet tall, so that's 20 stories tall.

05:59

[D] 20 stories tall? [T] Yeah.

06:01

Okay. And about 18 feet in diameter, 5.

06:03

4 meters in diameter.

06:05

Obviously, it's not fueled yet, except for the solid.

06:10

So we got two solids hanging there.

06:11

Those are the GEM 63XL, extra long.

06:15

These are about 7 feet longer than the GEM 63s we've been flying on Atlas so far.

06:20

[D] What does the 63 mean?

06:21

[T] 63 inches in diameter was the original design of that original rocket motor

06:26

that these were designed from.

06:27

These are the longest monolithic rocket motors ever flown.

06:33

[D] So they're not segmented? [T] Not segmented.

06:35

One piece.

06:35

[D] Which is good because you don't get cracks in the...

06:38

I didn't know that.

06:38

I thought these- [T] Yeah, so you don't have to seal them.

06:40

There's no big O-ring joints like there were on the shuttle segments

06:45

or on Artemis's solids.

06:47

So it's a lot more weight-efficient, so you don't have that big joint in there.

06:51

And they're faster to make.

06:53

It's 109,000 pounds of propellant in each one of them.

06:57

So that's a lot of energy tied up in these guys.

07:01

And all of that, 50 tons of propellant is expelled in less than two minutes,

07:06

about a minute and 50 seconds.

07:08

[D] And their thrust vector, the nozzles- [T] No, these are fixed nozzles because we have

07:14

two BE cores on the liquid core.

07:16

So that's enough control authority to get us all our pitch, yah, and roll.

07:21

[D] Really? [T] Yeah.

07:22

[D] Okay. So that's unique, isn't it?

07:24

Because most solids, like on the ones you see on SLS and the ones you

07:27

see on the shuttle, they were gimbled, [T] Yes, they often are gimbled.

07:31

When we flew the Delta with its solids, we had fixed or gimbled

07:36

depending on what we were doing and how many, and the same on Atlas.

07:40

But for these, we don't need that.

07:42

We got plenty of control authority on the liquid engines.

07:45

[D] Okay.

07:46

So weaseled dad in here with me to do the B roll, right?

07:49

Oh, yeah. Can you see the rocket?

07:50

That's cool. I can see it.

07:51

I think it's hard hat time. [DAD] Okay.

07:53

Got you. [D] Can you tighten in the back?

07:55

[DAD] I got it. [D] You got it?

07:56

[DAD] All right. [T] All right.

07:57

I got to get in a picture of your dad. Okay.

07:59

[D] Let's do that.

08:02

[T] You work James Webb, right? [DAD] I did, yes sir.

08:04

[T] Outstanding.

08:05

[D] You can hold the camera down, dad. [DAD] Okay.

08:07

[D] One, two, three.

08:10

That's great.

08:11

[T] So you remember the gray part here?

08:13

That's the MLP or mobile launch platform.

08:16

You can see the four sets of rails. [D] There's rails here.

08:18

[T] Yeah.

08:19

So obviously, the rocket's not fueled with the liquid propellents when we move it

08:24

out here, but the mobile launch platform is still two and a half million pounds.

08:28

Rockets like 100,000 pounds empty, plus the solids, which are 117,000 pounds each.

08:36

[D] Well, is it pressurized?

08:38

[T] Only the upper stage.

08:40

[D] The SENTAR is pressurized right now? [T] Right.

08:43

Yeah. It has to be at all.

08:43

You either have to have it stretched and supported mechanically or pressurized

08:48

because it's that very, very thin, as thin as 14,000 stainless steel.

08:53

So it's a balloon tank.

08:54

The first stage is rigid.

08:57

That's that ortho-grid, the rigid aluminum structure, the 2000-series

09:01

structure you saw in the factory. So that's okay.

09:03

But the upper stage has to be pressurized.

09:06

And all of this was in the VIF behind you.

09:09

The doors are closed right now.

09:10

Yeah, right there.

09:12

Ula on the top.

09:13

That's where we assembled all of this because it's too big

09:17

to ship this way from Decatur.

09:19

So the first stage, the upper stage, the payload faring, the interstage all

09:23

come separately here on the rocket ship.

09:26

They go to that building, we stack them vertically, then we bring in the solids,

09:32

stack those, and then the last thing we do is bring in the fully encapsulated

09:36

payload, in this case, Paragren, underneath the payload faring.

09:41

[D] Go into the moon. [T] Go into the moon.

09:42

[D] Which is cool. [T] Super cool.

09:44

[D] That's awesome. [T] And then that gets stacked.

09:47

It's all on top of the mobile launch platform.

09:49

So when it's all done, doors open, then it rolls out here at a blistering

09:55

two and a half miles per hour. [D] That's fun.

09:58

[T] Takes a couple of hours to do it because we come real slow to

10:01

clear the building, and then we take off.

10:03

We're being careful.

10:04

Somebody asked me the other day, they go, how long does it take to

10:08

roll from the vif to the pad?

10:09

And I said, oh, about eight years.

10:11

Eight years?

10:13

[D] Yeah, it's a lot of time went into that, isn't it?

10:15

[T] It was, yeah. Yeah.

10:16

So if you go way, way up the topmost one up there, that white one that looks bent,

10:20

that's a flexible, what we call ECS or Environmental Control System duct.

10:25

That's air conditioning.

10:26

That's for the payload.

10:28

Temperature, humidity, stuff like that.

10:31

Certain payloads, especially optical ones, you got to keep them super duper dry.

10:35

And then below that, as you're going down, you've got

10:38

umbilicals for the propellants.

10:39

You've got umbilicals for all the electrical systems and the data and

10:44

the power until we go to internal power.

10:47

And then, of course, up there in the middle, you got a ground wind damper

10:50

because it's a 20-story building.

10:52

[D] That's a mechanical coupling there. Okay.

10:55

[T] Because winds can get pretty high out here.

10:59

[D] Today, it's supposed to. [T] We don't want the rocket to sway.

11:01

[D] Here, how many hours out are we right now?

11:03

[T] We're going to go at 2:18 in the morning on Monday, so we're a ways out.

11:08

[D] We're like 30 something hours out. Okay.

11:10

[T] So that's ground wind damper.

11:12

And then above that was all propellant and power and electricity and data.

11:16

[D] I see.

11:17

[T] Then as we come back down, then we've got more of the same.

11:21

Then this is also different than what you're used to on shuttle or

11:26

even Artemis or even Delta IV heavy, where we have mechanical arms that would

11:31

swing away when it's time to launch.

11:34

These will disconnect and then fall down out of the way, part of it passively,

11:40

so that we don't have that complicated set of systems and hydraulics

11:45

that we do on a Delta IV heavy.

11:46

[D] How close can we go here?

11:48

[T] We're going to go until somebody stops us.

11:50

[D] We're going to go until somebody stops us. I like it.

11:53

All right, I'm switching back to wide angle.

11:55

All right.

11:56

[T] So you remember the water suppression system?

11:58

[D] Yes. That's for for acoustics, correct?

12:00

[T] For acoustics.

12:01

So we call that the Acoustic Water Suppression System.

12:04

We're going to dump about, I guess we're going to dump about 10 swimming pools

12:09

worth in the first minute here. [D] Okay.

12:11

[T] And that's all about the acoustic energy that would come out of the Rockets,

12:14

exhausted and reflect off the ground.

12:16

Water is almost the best, you know, acoustic energy absorbing

12:22

material you can have. Okay.

12:24

And the reason that's important is because where we're standing right now,

12:26

we'd be pushing 300 decibels.

12:29

So if the fire didn't get us, the sound alone would just kill us right here.

12:32

[D] Shake us apart. [T] Shake us apart.

12:34

We get massive brain hemorrhage, that stuff.

12:36

But more importantly...

12:38

Yeah, more importantly.

12:39

Without all of that absorption, that energy would reflect right back on the

12:43

rocket and likely damage the spacecraft. [D] Okay.

12:46

[T] That's what it's really about.

12:49

[D] Can I walk over here to this side?

12:50

[T] Yeah.

12:54

[D] We're in a place right now. That's amazing.

12:57

[T] Yes, we are. That rigid platform will go away.

13:01

This on the bottom goes away. Yes.

13:03

That grading you see, that goes away.

13:05

And beneath us is the flame trench. [D] Okay.

13:07

[T] And if you look to your right, that's the outlet to the flame trench right there.

13:12

[D] All the fire goes that way. [T] Yeah.

13:13

And out of that thing and It blows the lawn, knocks the fence over.

13:17

But it's florida, so the lawn will be back five minutes later.

13:19

[D] Sounds great.

13:21

[T] And so you can...

13:22

Those are the two BE4 engines.

13:24

We're going to get about a million and a half pounds of thrust out of those.

13:27

[D] Wow. They're grounded right now.

13:29

Grounded, All right, let me switch to my tighter lens.

13:33

Okay, so GEM 63s, they're canted. [T] Gem 63, XL.

13:39

[D] They're canted out.

13:39

[T] Yeah, so that way we're getting the center of gravity from them

13:44

through the average center of gravity because you know that for the rocket,

13:49

it's moving because we're going to dump all that propellent in five minutes.

13:53

That core will be empty.

13:54

So we pick the optimal place to pass the solid's thrust vector through

13:59

so that the BE force don't have to fight too much of that on the way up.

14:03

I was surprised to find out that these solids are fixed and canted

14:06

because a lot of solids on big things like shuttle and SLS,

14:10

they have nozzles that move so you can do what's called thrust vector control.

14:15

But they don't do that on the Vulcan, and why is pretty interesting.

14:18

Look back at the bottom of the rocket.

14:19

Those two silver things right in the middle, those are the BE4 liquid

14:23

engines, oxygen and methane.

14:25

If we think about what's going on here, you can actually move those.

14:29

They have thrust vector control on the liquid engines.

14:32

And what you can do with that is fascinating.

14:34

You can vary the thrust so you can spin the vehicle in one way or the other.

14:39

I'm going to shoot at you.

14:41

You can also do things like this.

14:43

I mean, it's hard to describe, but you can see what I'm doing.

14:46

You can even roll the vehicle by how you swing these bells

14:50

around, which is fascinating.

14:52

Now, the design choice they make, I think, is very elegant and very simple.

14:56

They are thrusting the solids through the CG of the rocket When

15:00

you first start, if you look at a cross-section of the rocket, you load

15:04

up the liquid, you load up the solid.

15:05

It's a very heavy rocket, and the CG is really high, though.

15:08

It's towards the front of the solids because you think about how long

15:12

the rocket is, and you've got the centaur upper stage, and it's fully loaded.

15:16

So the CG is about here.

15:17

But as you start burning and dumping mass out the back,

15:21

the CG is going to slowly walk forward. That's fascinating.

15:25

And so you would think, okay, well, if I'm a design engineer

15:28

designing the system, I'm just going average out and shoot the middle of where

15:32

the CG starts and where the CG ends.

15:35

And that's where I'm going to thrust my solid rocket boosters through.

15:38

And the reason they do that is because they don't want

15:41

to overpower, so to speak, those liquid engines in the middle.

15:45

If you are pushing through the CG of the vehicle, you're not trying to twist

15:48

the vehicle and roll pitch or you all or anything like that with your solids.

15:52

You're just trying to add forward momentum to the vehicle.

15:56

So that's how they do that. I think that's very clever.

15:58

The fact that they canted that by the way, means if you have, let's say it's

16:02

three degrees on the solids.

16:03

If you have a sign of three degrees, that means you're pinching in with about 5%

16:08

of your total solid rocket thrust, which means the design of the core

16:12

has to be able to handle that compressive force, which I think is fascinating.

16:17

And it's even more when you have six boosters on the outside of the volcan.

16:20

I'm sorry, I'm geeking out right now, but this is a very complicated problem,

16:23

and it's very interesting.

16:25

Another thing to think about is when you're down at sea level,

16:28

a four degree cant on your rocket, your rocket nozzles, that's going to

16:32

twist the vehicle a certain amount.

16:34

But when you get up five miles in the atmosphere, you've got less mass

16:38

and you have less aerodynamic pressure.

16:40

So that same cantover of the nozzles, you're going to get a much different

16:45

response to the vehicle up at altitude.

16:47

So they're probably not averaging that thrust spot between the beginning and

16:53

the end of the CG because the response is different as you go up in altitude.

16:57

They probably have an optimized spot, and that's where they're thrusting

17:01

through, which I think is fascinating.

17:03

It's a very simple, elegant solution to make these solids

17:07

just a fixed nozzle at a certain angle.

17:09

And it almost makes me empathize with the challenge that the guidance

17:13

and control engineers have trying to figure out this control algorithm.

17:17

But we're not going to do that because those are guidance and control people.

17:20

And everybody knows that solid propulsion and liquid propulsion

17:23

people, that's where it's at.

17:24

That's where the cool stuff is. I'm joking right now.

17:27

Anyway, obviously, this is an amazing problem, and I'm excited just to hear

17:31

Tory talk about it because I'm learning, and I'm hoping you're learning, too.

17:35

[T] And so we'll get about 450,000 pounds of thrust out of each

17:38

of those solids, plus the 1.1 million from the combined pair of BE4s.

17:46

So this rocket, it'll weigh just under a million and a half pounds,

17:49

fully fueled at lift off.

17:51

We'll have about 2 million pounds of thrust, so it's not going to leap off

17:56

like if it had six solids.

17:58

So you'll see it gently come off the pad and go.

18:02

[D] Six solids, that's the maximum bulk and handle.

18:05

[T] That's the max, yeah.

18:06

[D] Is that just a structural limit or just physical positioning?

18:08

[T] It's physical space around the rocket.

18:10

But obviously, the structure is designed for that because

18:13

we knew that's what it would be.

18:14

You don't want to waste any mass with extra structure.

18:17

[D] Let me ask you about the BE4s.

18:19

I know you wanted those things forever.

18:21

It took a long time to get them to you. [T] It did.

18:23

[D] You're excited you got them, right? [T] Excited we got them.

18:26

We love them. They're good engines now that we got them.

18:28

My understanding is, and don't let me hurt your feelings too much

18:32

with this question, Tory.

18:33

My understanding is those things in testing, they've got a lot

18:37

of horizontal firing time, but they don't have a lot of vertical.

18:40

My understanding is one or two of them has four seconds

18:43

of vertical thrust time, right? Real quick.

18:46

This is what I was asking Tory.

18:47

A horizontal rocket engine test is when you have a huge reaction mass and

18:51

you horizontally mount that rocket engine up against that mass and you fire it

18:55

and you measure thrust and pressures and flow rates and all that stuff.

18:58

A vertical test test is when you hang the engine from your reaction mass

19:03

like this, and you can test it in the configuration that it's going to launch.

19:07

Typically, you want to do that because that's how the rocket is going to fly.

19:10

[T] What's really more important than whether they're horizontal or vertical

19:14

is how they interact with the rest of the rocket because you're moving

19:18

so much propelling through that thing.

19:20

Remember, it's going to dump all of this, right?

19:23

We got 86,000 pounds of LOX.

19:27

We got 73,000 pounds, gallons, I pounds, 86,000 gallons of LOX,

19:33

73,000 gallons of methane.

19:36

All that's gone in five minutes.

19:38

So the flow rate through these engines is humongous.

19:42

And the orientation of the liquid rocket engine in its pumps

19:46

really aren't a driving factor at all.