this post was submitted on 24 May 2024
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SpaceX sets date for next Starship flight, explains what went wrong the last time (arstechnica.com)
submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/spacex
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (3 children)

@TheHolm @llamacoffee

That's the big unsolved question. Easiest answer is that they are using preburner exhaust to pressurize the tanks, but putting CO₂, CO, water vapor and maybe a trace of unburned methane into an oxygen tank sounds like such a bad idea - but like you, I can't think of anything else that could block the filters.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

CO2 will froze and sink in LOX tank, water ice will float. SO both clog the lines. I was under impression that they pressurize tanks by pure oxygen.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 8 months ago

water ice will float. SO both clog the lines

If water ice floats, wouldn't it not clog the lines until you run out of propellant, in which case the clog is moot?

I was under impression that they pressurize tanks by pure oxygen

That was my impression as well. I wish I could figure out where people are getting the idea that they are using combustion exhaust to pressurize the tanks. Seems like a weird idea to me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

If there’s nothing that the filter can catch, why are there filters?

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 8 months ago

Easiest answer is that they are using preburner exhaust to pressurize the tanks

Has there been any evidence that they are doing this? I've seen this mentioned in a number of places, but it seems mostly like speculation.

That said, I can't think of any other source of filter clogs, unless one of the workers left their hat or something inside. Perhaps Tim Dodd can clarify this during his upcoming Starbase tour.