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General Forums => Personal Blogs => Topic started by: Enthalpy on May 10, 2023, 02:56:04 PM

Title: Launcher's Umbilical Reconnects
Post by: Enthalpy on May 10, 2023, 02:56:04 PM
Hello everyone!

Many satellite launchers use umbilicals to keep tanks full of cryogenic propellants that evaporate. Few minutes before lift-off, the umbilicals separate. A launch aborted then lets empty the tanks, refit the umbilicals, and try again an other day.

The umbilicals can reconnect to the launcher, I claim. Fitting pipes is trivial in 2023, automatically or by humans with remote control. Copy the aerial refueling of airplanes?

Launchers may have more umbilicals, often for data exchange. Easily reconnected too.

Marc Schaefer, aka Enthalpy