China's Space Program Thread II

[Blitzo]

The cable-catching method is less demanding on precise engine gimbaling because the X and Y cables can move under the approaching rocket to form a flexible square grid which creates a very wide capture zone, as long as the rocket's hooks land anywhere within that grid, the system can snare it. You don't need bullseye alignment because the hooks just need to straddle a section of the grid so this method has a meter-level tolerance. Cables are also tension-controlled so they can yield upon impact to further compensate for leftover lateral velocity.

So, my understanding is that the rocket cable catching is meant to occur like this, ideally (highly simplified);




My question, is what happens if the rocket is rotated on its vertical axis slightly, such as this:





Now, I'm sure that they can still catch the rocket that way, but I've always wondered whether the rockets flight path would be configured in a manner to allow it to be caught in the first ideal position rather than the latter, and also whether the latter would present any additional stressors to the rocket airframe versus the former.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

Now, I'm sure that they can still catch the rocket that way, but I've always wondered whether the rockets flight path would be configured in a manner to allow it to be caught in the first ideal position rather than the latter, and also whether the latter would present any additional stressors to the rocket airframe versus the former.

It seems like there'd be some shear on the fin attachment joints to the body in a "non-ideal" angle but it shouldn't matter. The cables should be able to catch the rocket at any angle so long as body is vertical.

 

[gpt]

It seems like there'd be some shear on the fin attachment joints to the body in a "non-ideal" angle but it shouldn't matter. The cables should be able to catch the rocket at any angle so long as body is vertical.

My question, is what happens if the rocket is rotated on its vertical axis slightly, such as this:

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The mechanism uses circular guide rails to match the rocket's orientation to ensure the cable and hooks are relatively perpendicular so yes that is the ideal position for it to be caught. The rocket actually employs sliding lock hooks spaced at 1-meter intervals it doesn't need to be perfectly centered in the recovery square, it's quite forgiving-as long as the arm makes contact anywhere, the cable will simply slide along until it hits a hook and latches into place.

 

[Deino]

Another great image of the CZ-10B

 

[taxiya]

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View attachment 173125View attachment 173126

The mechanism uses circular guide rails to match the rocket's orientation to ensure the cable and hooks are relatively perpendicular so yes that is the ideal position for it to be caught. The rocket actually employs sliding lock hooks spaced at 1-meter intervals it doesn't need to be perfectly centered in the recovery square, it's quite forgiving-as long as the arm makes contact anywhere, the cable will simply slide along until it hits a hook and latches into place.

Just illustrate the rotation mechanism. The dotted line is thr circular rail. The recovery rack stands on the rail and rotate according to the rocket's orientation.

 

[Blitzo]

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View attachment 173125View attachment 173126

The mechanism uses circular guide rails to match the rocket's orientation to ensure the cable and hooks are relatively perpendicular so yes that is the ideal position for it to be caught. The rocket actually employs sliding lock hooks spaced at 1-meter intervals it doesn't need to be perfectly centered in the recovery square, it's quite forgiving-as long as the arm makes contact anywhere, the cable will simply slide along until it hits a hook and latches into place.

Just illustrate the rotation mechanism. The dotted line is thr circular rail. The recovery rack stands on the rail and rotate according to the rocket's orientation.
View attachment 173144

That is certainly news to me, but if the entire catching mechanism is able to rotate on the barge to catch the rocket that would basically solve the issue I described... though I must say the barge itself doesn't look like it is actually on any sort of rotating pedestal based off images we have so far.

 

[NoetherSpudCharge]

I could be wrong but it seems the wire-control system acutally implemented on the physial recovery rig is slightly different from the one presented in the schematic diagram above. Attached is a angled top-down view of the rig's wires and another schematic diagram (can't remember if I got it from here or from over at NasaSpaceFlight.com forum) which show the current setup.

It seems to me that if the two ends of the roller mechanisms responsible for holding up a single set of wires can move independently, then the control algo can quickly adjust the overall shape of the wires into a parrallegram (from a square) to enable a higher probability for a successful catch. Just my speculation.

 

[Asug]

What is this symbol on the 2nd stage?

View attachment 173120

So this is the famous jade dragon. Then the next question is, what does it mean?)

 

[Mar ling]

 

[ZachL111]

So this is the famous jade dragon. Then the next question is, what does it mean?)

Jack wrote about it a bit in the article he just put out.

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With today’s rollout, keen-eyed readers may have noticed a red design painted on the second-stage. That design appears to be replicating that of

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from the Neolithic Hongshang Culture (红山文化), originating about six thousand years ago. In Chinese culture, red dragons

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can symbolize good fortune and luck, or a pioneering spirit more generally.