XPost: sci.physics, sci.space.policy   
   From: fjmccall@gmail.com   
      
   JF Mezei  wrote:   
      
   >On 2017-05-25 03:14, Anthony Frost wrote:   
   >>   
   >> SpaceX are now flying with new range safety equipment that removes the   
   >> need for most of the ground tracking equipment.   
   >>   
   >   
   >I know range safety is the one that transmits the command to go "kaboom".   
   >   
   >Is range safety also in charge of making the decision that a rocket is   
   >off its nominal course and send the "kaboom" command, or is that   
   >decision made by the launching company's systems who then tell range   
   >safety to send the command ?   
   >   
      
   Range safety.   
      
   >   
   >Is there always a human who sees alert on screen and then decides to   
   >press the big red button, or is that automated ?   
   >   
      
   It can be either, depending on where you're launching from.  Automated   
   systems are typically required to have tighter bounds and are either   
   backed up by a human or will trip if the automated system indicates   
   it's not working.  Automated systems have, on occasion, blow up   
   perfectly good rockets.   
      
   >   
   >Are there cases where a human makes a decision to press the big red   
   >button based on visual cues ? or is the decision explicitely limited to   
   >telemetry data ?   
   >   
      
   Radar plus telemetry.  It's based on the position of the rocket and   
   where the velocity vector points and how big it is.  If the velocity   
   vector is outside a defined nominal corridor range safety will   
   terminate thrust before the velocity vector could carry the rocket to   
   something you don't want it to land on.  I'm sure we've had this   
   discussion with you before at least once, Mayfly.   
      
      
   --   
   "Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to   
       live in the real world."   
                         -- Mary Shafer, NASA Dryden   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)