http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/06/20/spacex-prepares-for-orbcomm-launch-and-shows-off-latest-falcon-9r-test/ Tracking the entrepreneurial space industry Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:33:32 +0800 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/06/20/spacex-prepares-for-orbcomm-launch-and-shows-off-latest-falcon-9r-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1332733 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 13:54:19 +0000 http://www.newspacejournal.com/?p=2473#comment-1332733 A great step forward. I really appreciated slow down at the end for a nice soft landing. Do we have any impact ‘g’ or velocity data?
I think the fins are there for reasons of stability for the whole vehicle; I imagine that winds aloft may be a problem, particularly at lower speeds. After all, dropping a vehicle to the ground on thrust must be like balancing a long stick on one finger and then lowering it to the ground!

]]> http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/06/20/spacex-prepares-for-orbcomm-launch-and-shows-off-latest-falcon-9r-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1332725 Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:56:21 +0000 http://www.newspacejournal.com/?p=2473#comment-1332725 Yeah, they look funny. However I think the rocket will be moving much faster when they are used. I think they are for guidance near the top of the main tanks flight.

]]> http://www.newspacejournal.com/2014/06/20/spacex-prepares-for-orbcomm-launch-and-shows-off-latest-falcon-9r-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1332723 Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:49:31 +0000 http://www.newspacejournal.com/?p=2473#comment-1332723 I guess steering fins like that have a long pedigree in the missile and rocket business, but it’s still sort of funny to such little surfaces flapping around at the top. Purely from a layman’s point of view, it’s hard to believe they do much.

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