SpaceX DragonFly RLV: spacecraft propulsive landing testbed

[Dr Mordrid]

DragonFly RLV = DragonRider crew spacecraft propulsive landing testbed

AKA a brown-pants landing

* up to four steel landing legs
* 6,350.3 kg*(14,000 lbs) unfueled
* 1,514 liter (400 gallon) propellant load

4 types of test flight;

* propulsive assist hop (self launched, parachute deploys, like a pad abort)

* fully propulsive hop (like Grass-hopper)

* propulsive assist landing (parachutes & rockets, like Soyuz but with a higher burn)

* fully propulsive landing (dropped from helicopter)

FAA Draft Environmental Assessment and other experimental permits (not just SpaceX):

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/review/permits/

SpaceX is currently considering two locations for the DragonFly RLV launch operations within the McGregor test site: the existing Grass-hopper launch pad and the DragonRider test area. If operations would occur at the DragonRider test area, construction of a 40 ft by 40 ft launch pad would be necessary....

The DragonFly RLV is the Dragon capsule with an integrated trunk (which may or may not be attached during a DragonFly operation) and up to four steel landing legs. The Dragon capsule primary structure consists of a welded aluminum pressure vessel, primary heat shield support structure, back shell thermal protection system support structure, and a nosecone. This structure supports secondary structures including eight SuperDraco engines (two in each of the four modules [quadrants]), propellant tanks, pressurant tanks, parachute system, and necessary avionics. The propulsion system includes four self‐contained quadrants with independent sets of propellant tanks for system redundancy. The SuperDraco engine uses a fuel‐centered injector to provide appropriate performance for the application. It is also designed to seal off both fuel and oxidizer from the combustion chamber, enabling operation with fast shut‐off and limited propellant “dribble” volumes.

The DragonFly RLV weighs approximately 14,000 pounds (lbs) un‐fueled, with a height of 17 ft and a base width of 13 ft. Each pair of SuperDraco engines (eight total engines) are mounted to a monolithic aluminum bracket. This bracket is connected to the pressure vessel with three mounts.

Fully propulsive landing (old CONOPS video)

[Dr Mordrid]

More...

Propulsive Assist

For the propulsive assist test, a helicopter (an Erickson E‐model or equivalent) would arrive at the McGregor test site from Waco Regional Airport. The DragonFly RLV would then be tethered to the helicopter using a cable. A maximum of 300 gallons of propellant would be loaded into the DragonFly RLV for this test. The helicopter would take off with the DragonFly RLV attached and reach an altitude up to 10,000 ft. Once at that altitude, the DragonFly RLV would be released from the tether and three main parachutes would be deployed. The engines would not fire until the vehicle descends to approximately 98 ft above ground level (AGL). The engines would fire for approximately 5 seconds, and the RLV would make a powered landing. This type of operation would last approximately 30 minutes from helicopter take‐off to DragonFly RLV landing.
The test would be designed so that almost all fuel on board is used prior to landing. All fuel valves would shut automatically and retain any residual fuel in the capsule.

Conference video showing propulsive assist landing