Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by Filligree on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @06:05PM
(#25366636)
I think that was the ignition system; the green flame matches. Which makes sense if they lost an engine, of course.
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Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by Gwypaas on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @06:16PM
(#25366815)
The merlin engine uses TEA-TEB which causes the green flame seen on Falcon 9. The raptor uses electric spark ignition, which is harder but doesn't require any awfully poisonous chemicals and you can't run out.
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by grishka on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @06:43PM
(#25367197)
No, not that, I meant the moment when one of the three engines shut off mid air and then moved away a bit so the remaining ones point straight down.
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by remarkEon on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @06:13PM
(#25366762)
What's the reason that the flame produced by the ignition system is green?
Edit: ah, it's answered here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25366736
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by elteto on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @06:57PM
(#25367369)
That’s incorrect. Raptor does not use a TEA/TEB igniter like Falcon. It uses a spark igniter.
The green flame here is unintended engine ablation :) The chamber was melting.
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by ArPDent on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @08:01PM
(#25368059)
specifically it's copper being vaporized i believe
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by remarkEon on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @09:13PM
(#25368743)
Nice. Flashbacks to highschool chemistry. I'm assuming this isn't something you want to have happen ...
Re:Starship – SN8 – High-Altitude Flight Test
by SAI_Peregrinus on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @11:12PM
(#25369613)
No, engine-rich combustion cycles are definitely not something you usually want. Especially not on a re-usable craft.