Random Thought Thread

SpyderPhreak said:
Here are a handful of online-viewable images from some of the wind tunnel tests I worked on.

Starting with a whole bunch of tests at NASA Ames UPWT. Here’s a cool gallery (I worked on every Orion test shown there, plus a couple others): https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/nasa-ames-unitary-plan-wind-tunnel/

A hot helium acoustics test in the 11’ transonic wind tunnel (TWT). Fun fact, we used something like 80% of the nation’s Helium that year.
645327main_ACD10-0169-003_1600_full.jpg


A calibration fixture setup for the same test in the 9x7 supersonic wind tunnel (SWT).
D10-0105-001.jpg


A couple shots of one of the sep aero tests, for characterizing the effects of when the service module separates from the crew module during abort.
645240main_ACD08-0244-003_1600x1200_full.jpg


645193main_ACD08-0244-001_1600_full.jpg


Another abort sep aero test, but this time in the 9x7 tunnel. The model is pink because it has been coated with a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). You can literally see the pressure on the skin under the right light with specialized cameras. The data is then “anchored” with flush-mounted static pressure ports and some dynamic pressure transducers. It’s pretty cool tech!!!
650559main_ACD10-0144-002_1600_full.jpg


Here is a CM/LAS sep aero test. Note everything is backwards from previous images. This is for when the capsule has ejected the abort tower after an emergency abort. The heat shield has been DLC coated (my idea) to help mitigate damage from small object impacts since it’s such a blunt surface facing forward into airflow at over Mach 2. It worked quite well. Better picture of the heat shield at a different tunnel below.
651270main_ACD10-0034-009_1600_full.jpg


Here is another CM/LAS sep aero test, but in a different, larger tunnel at AEDC in Tennessee. Much better shot of the heat shield.
090612-F-9114G-050.JPG


Here’s an AEDC article about one of the tests we did there: https://www.arnold.af.mil/News/Arti...8/nasa-cevlaunch-abort-system-tested-at-aedc/

Here’s another AEDC article that talks about a test I worked on, but had moved on to work at ULA as a contractor after my layoff from Lockheed in 2013. The picture above is linked to that article for some reason, though the test had nothing to do with the photo. 🤷🏻‍♂️ https://www.arnold.af.mil/News/Arti...nasas-orion-aids-in-first-launch-preparation/

Here is a tech paper written by one of the head aero guys at NASA on the Orion program at the time. It is a good overview of what we had been doing. I was heavily involved with all the testing from ‘07-‘12, and early ‘13. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110014395/downloads/20110014395.pdf

I did a bunch of testing at ULA after Lockheed. Mostly the Commercial Crew project, Boeing CST-100 and SNC Dream Chaser. This was mainly because ULA was the launch provider, and neither CCdev vehicle was to be encapsulated inside of an Atlas-V nose fairing. So they had to run aero tests to be sure there wouldn’t be any issues with ascent aero with either vehicle on the front of the rocket. Here’s a Wired article that talks a bit about it with a photo. https://www.wired.com/2013/06/nasa-manned-spacecraft-testing/

cst-100windtunnel.jpg


Here are a couple other tests I worked on after Orion at NASA Ames UPWT. SNC Dream Chaser (now Sierra Space), where I went to work as a contractor after working at ULA for some years.
In the 11’ TWT.
acd20-0050-005.jpg


A couple in the 9x7 SWT.
acd20-0051-001_0.jpg


acd20-0051-009.jpg


A pic of me (green shirt) and crew in the 11’ with the model. (Stupid COVID masks…)
image012-jpeg.2821219


And here’s an article talking about the test on the SNC website. https://www.sncorp.com/news-archive...team-performs-successful-wind-tunnel-testing/

Finally, a few pics of an Ames UPWT test in the 11’ TWT of the Boeing SUGAR project that I helped with for awhile. The model has the newest PSP applied, which is white.
acd16-0013-022_0.jpg


acd16-0013-031.jpg


acd16-0013-027_0.jpg


I’ll add more if I find any more interesting ones. These were the easy ones.
Click to expand...
That’s really cool man
 
yoko said:
Sooooooo

When I was young I put over sized wheels on a car I loved.... hated it so much I parked it and haven't touched it for 20 years.....

Welp I got it running today!

View attachment 3157309

View attachment 3157310
Click to expand...

Love it!! 😍

I don’t think the color and wheels are so bad but adding some “White Walls” might be a nice touch! ;)🤣

Yoko… I didn’t realize this but you sometimes roll like a Gangsta!! 😆

 
SpyderPhreak said:
Here are a handful of online-viewable images from some of the wind tunnel tests I worked on.

Starting with a whole bunch of tests at NASA Ames UPWT. Here’s a cool gallery (I worked on every Orion test shown there, plus a couple others): https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/nasa-ames-unitary-plan-wind-tunnel/

A hot helium acoustics test in the 11’ transonic wind tunnel (TWT). Fun fact, we used something like 80% of the nation’s Helium that year.
645327main_ACD10-0169-003_1600_full.jpg


A calibration fixture setup for the same test in the 9x7 supersonic wind tunnel (SWT).
D10-0105-001.jpg


A couple shots of one of the sep aero tests, for characterizing the effects of when the service module separates from the crew module during abort.
645240main_ACD08-0244-003_1600x1200_full.jpg


645193main_ACD08-0244-001_1600_full.jpg


Another abort sep aero test, but this time in the 9x7 tunnel. The model is pink because it has been coated with a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). You can literally see the pressure on the skin under the right light with specialized cameras. The data is then “anchored” with flush-mounted static pressure ports and some dynamic pressure transducers. It’s pretty cool tech!!!
650559main_ACD10-0144-002_1600_full.jpg


Here is a CM/LAS sep aero test. Note everything is backwards from previous images. This is for when the capsule has ejected the abort tower after an emergency abort. The heat shield has been DLC coated (my idea) to help mitigate damage from small object impacts since it’s such a blunt surface facing forward into airflow at over Mach 2. It worked quite well. Better picture of the heat shield at a different tunnel below.
651270main_ACD10-0034-009_1600_full.jpg


Here is another CM/LAS sep aero test, but in a different, larger tunnel at AEDC in Tennessee. Much better shot of the heat shield.
090612-F-9114G-050.JPG


Here’s an AEDC article about one of the tests we did there: https://www.arnold.af.mil/News/Arti...8/nasa-cevlaunch-abort-system-tested-at-aedc/

Here’s another AEDC article that talks about a test I worked on, but had moved on to work at ULA as a contractor after my layoff from Lockheed in 2013. The picture above is linked to that article for some reason, though the test had nothing to do with the photo. 🤷🏻‍♂️ https://www.arnold.af.mil/News/Arti...nasas-orion-aids-in-first-launch-preparation/

Here is a tech paper written by one of the head aero guys at NASA on the Orion program at the time. It is a good overview of what we had been doing. I was heavily involved with all the testing from ‘07-‘12, and early ‘13. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110014395/downloads/20110014395.pdf

I did a bunch of testing at ULA after Lockheed. Mostly the Commercial Crew project, Boeing CST-100 and SNC Dream Chaser. This was mainly because ULA was the launch provider, and neither CCdev vehicle was to be encapsulated inside of an Atlas-V nose fairing. So they had to run aero tests to be sure there wouldn’t be any issues with ascent aero with either vehicle on the front of the rocket. Here’s a Wired article that talks a bit about it with a photo. https://www.wired.com/2013/06/nasa-manned-spacecraft-testing/

cst-100windtunnel.jpg


Here are a couple other tests I worked on after Orion at NASA Ames UPWT. SNC Dream Chaser (now Sierra Space), where I went to work as a contractor after working at ULA for some years.
In the 11’ TWT.
acd20-0050-005.jpg


A couple in the 9x7 SWT.
acd20-0051-001_0.jpg


acd20-0051-009.jpg


A pic of me (green shirt) and crew in the 11’ with the model. (Stupid COVID masks…)
image012-jpeg.2821219


And here’s an article talking about the test on the SNC website. https://www.sncorp.com/news-archive...team-performs-successful-wind-tunnel-testing/

Finally, a few pics of an Ames UPWT test in the 11’ TWT of the Boeing SUGAR project that I helped with for awhile. The model has the newest PSP applied, which is white.
acd16-0013-022_0.jpg


acd16-0013-031.jpg


acd16-0013-027_0.jpg


I’ll add more if I find any more interesting ones. These were the easy ones.
Click to expand...
Neat stuff. So you're the one bankrupting chemistry departments! (cost of helium)
 
jlauffer said:
Think I hear Blues Blues overhead...
Click to expand...
The post that reopened the thread (after its being dormant for a year or two) was submitted by a member who does not have the proper membership to advertise his website or business...(nor was it the proper place for a rant about "karens" or "libs" and their views on the 2A).

(Nathan and I have discussed this in the relatively recent past, and during that time I removed at least one person from this sub-forum, with Nathan's encouragement, who was bringing down the collegial atmosphere that most of us enjoy here.)

As a result of that post being moved, the two posts responding to it were moved offline as well, as they were no longer relevant.

(And if we're being honest, each was simply making fun of that member's post in any case, and had nothing to do with the original topic.)

SharpBits said:
I think that whole thread got nuked.
Click to expand...

No, it simply got locked.
 
SharpBits said:
Sorry. I call that getting nuked. Like a neutron bomb, the buildings remain, but it’s unlivable and there are no signs of life.
Click to expand...
Fine. You go with that if it makes you happy. The thread is still available to read and there was no new and useful information added, nor removed.

But if being contrary makes you happy...knock yourself out.

The matter is over with. I've explained the reasons.
 
Blues said:
Fine. You go with that if it makes you happy. The thread is still available to read and there was no new and useful information added, nor removed.

But if being contrary makes you happy...knock yourself out.
Click to expand...
Not trying to be contrary. I was just explaining why I wrote that. 🤷🏻‍♂️
I’m guessing Super Mods use that term for posts that are gone for good.
 
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