JP Aerospace Blog

The last few days have been filled with a little bit of everything. Two more handles got mounted in the crew module. The maple bar landing gear was finished and installed on the Pup. We decided to replace all the wheel hardware so it will still be a bit before she’s back on her legs. All the electrodes on the MHD units have been cleaned. However, mainly it’s been desk work. I’ve been submitting proposals and talking with sponsors. Spaceships get build in the shop, but they get paid for at the desk.

Nope, just the Pup with the landing gear removed. The new gear is done. Today it got it’s first coat of varnish. We’re using varnish instead of paint so any cracks or damage from landing will be easily visible.   Four more coat to go and it will be ready to be installed.

This is the anode and cathode of the Mini-MHD generator after the last firing. Positively charged molten copper was trying to head to the negative plate and the negatively charged molten copper was trying to head to the positive plate. The test ended and they froze before completing their journey.  We only see this on the small motor runs. The larger motors just blow it all out the back.

The rain was coming down so it was back under the awning again for MHD test number 25. This one was the breakthrough we were looking for. Until now we’ve been getting  great voltage but either no amps or extreme ‘spikey’ data on the current.  Twenty-five’s the charm, smooth, solid current and voltage all along the expected curves.

As a personal rule I never comment on or critique NASA here.  However, this is so unprofessional and just awful you need to see it.

A crack was discovered in the foam of big external tank of the Space Shuttle Discovery. NASA patched it, end of story right?

Look at the job they did.

What an unprofessional, sloppy, uncraftsmanship’s like job!  The vertical ribs looks hand gouged at best. It looks like they started on the left one then said “who cares” and half heartily chipped out the rest. Yes, it will probably work, but what does this say about the level of quality and craftsmanship. If my plumber did this sloppy of a job I would make him rip it out and do it again. This is the Space Shuttle!!!!

Shouldn’t the Space Shuttle have at least the craftsmanship of a nice cabinet?  Sloppiness is not cheaper or cost effective.

Aside from what this says about lack of pride and concern, wouldn’t you want to polish up the old girl before her last flight?

What took down Challenger and Columbia wasn’t tech, it was attitude. This shows nothing has changed.

Original Crack (about 20 inches wide)

The patch from another angle.

It’s a engine, cabin and airplane day. The small MHD generator is getting stripped down and rebuild for a test of the new sensor system. The crew module mock up is getting windows, one more monitor and interior hand holds and the Sky Pup is getting her broken landing gear removed.

The Sky Pup is getting closer to “return to flight”.

The gear is a laminated and tapered bar of maple. It’s like a baseball bat under the plane. Flex and strength.