New photos emerge of SpaceX ITS LOX tank
Developmental SpaceX ITS LOX tank. Photo Credit: SpaceX
On Friday, November 11, Reddit / Imgur user Death_Cog_Unit posted new photos of what is purported to be SpaceX’s Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) – formerly Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT) – liquid oxygen tank (LOX) being loaded / unloaded on a barge in Anacortes, Washington. The link to the photos is here.
SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, revealed a photo of a similar (probably the same) tank – a developmental LOX tank – during a presentation, on Sept. 27, at the 67th International Astronomical Congress (IAC) in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The tank is made of carbon fiber, is approximately 12 meters in diameter, and will ultimately be used in the ITS upper stage.
During an October 23 Reddit AMA, Musk explained that the company “[w]ill take [the tank] up to 2/3 of burst pressure on an ocean barge in the coming weeks.”
It is assumed that the testing is being conducted on an “ocean barge” for safety reasons.
For video (containing strong language) of the loading / unloading, click here.
ITS upper stage cutaway showing LOX tank positioned, roughly, in the center of the stage. Image Credit: SpaceX
Scott Johnson
Scott earned both a Bachelor's Degree in public administration, and a law degree, from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He currently practices law in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood. Scott first remembers visiting Marshall Space Flight Center in 1978 to get an up-close look at the first orbiter, Enterprise, which had been transported to Huntsville for dynamic testing. More recently, in 2006, he participated in an effort at the United States Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) to restore the long-neglected Skylab 1-G Trainer. This led to a volunteer position, with the USSRC curator, where he worked for several years maintaining exhibits and archival material, including flown space hardware. Scott attended the STS - 110, 116 and 135 shuttle launches, along with Ares I-X, Atlas V MSL and Delta IV NROL-15 launches. More recently, he covered the Atlas V SBIRS GEO-2 and MAVEN launches, along with the Antares ORB-1, SpaceX CRS-3, and Orion EFT-1 launches.
You know how I know that photo was taken from inside the hanger in Anacortes Washington? Google Maps Pacific Marine Center in Anacortes WA and look at the interior photo of “Pacific Marine Center” The interiors are identical, the platform holding the LOX Tank above is identical to the one seen in videos of them moving the tank out to the barge.
Wow, you’re right
Elon making a killing …thanks to you the taxpayers !
http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/13/its-time-to-stop-spending-taxpayer-dollars-on-elon-musk-and-cronyism/
The Article that you are referencing has been proven to be highly inaccurate and very misleading.
It’s amazing how much SpaceX is progressing with the R&D of the ITs already. It wasn’t long ago they announced the ITS at the thing in Guadalajara Mexico & now they are already starting to test hardware. This particular fuel tank will not be the same one used on the real ITS spacecraft. This one is just a tech demonstrator. The real ITS LOX tank is said to be taller than this one as allot of fuel will be needed for the push to Mars as well as the landing & return to Earth if they plan on doing it all with one spacecraft. Also they have to launch a Red Dragon to Mars first before fabrication of any ITS spacecraft prototype is approved as Red Dragon will demonstrate landing techniques used on ITS. They haven’t even tested the ITS booster stage the BFR yet. That could happen by the 2020’s if they start building & testing the BFR booster now. I’m sure it can be done by the early 2020’s. Booster fabrication would cost between 100 million & 200 million dollars tops not including R&D cost which is easily achievable by SpaceX as SpaceX is making billions of dollars per year now.