Comments on: SpaceX shows off Falcon 9 landing video

By: Patrick Kees

Patrick Kees — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 10:52:27 +0000

Howard- that’s a good tidbit to know! So much for my wild theory.

-P

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 05:17:32 +0000

The suspected reason for the “low probability” is:

Last year, SpaceX attempted a first stage water landing, but was not successful. Their two most recent successes on this front had at least two hardware differences from that old attempt: landing legs and heavier duty RCS thrusters. However, due to some combination of manufacturing and launch scheduling, an old core without these improvements, similar to their attempt last year, will be flying on flight 13.

By: Paul Scutts

Paul Scutts — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 23:45:06 +0000

Just a thought SpaceX, if you find that keeping the stage stable after soft landing becomes to problematical, use three bat gizmos to fire out from the top of the stage just after touchdown to help with anchoring it to the deck. Elon, just a tip, have a chat with Bruce Wayne. LOL.

By: Paul Scutts

Paul Scutts — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 23:23:26 +0000

So far, so good. The hardest part is yet to come, being able to keep the centre of gravity of the stage when it lands on a solid surface within the circle perscribed by the points of the landing legs. This will get more and more difficult with a rolling surface on the water and also by a non-level surface on solid ground. But, all the best SpaceX. The future of humanity is riding upon your sholders, “No Pressure!”

By: Patrick Kees

Patrick Kees — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:41:02 +0000

I found the language “…but with a low probability of success,” curious. I interpret it to mean that they are planning on intentionally pushing the performance envelope of the return leg in some way. Obviously they’ve enjoyed a good amount of success thus far so it would make sense to have at least one test flight of a demanding scenario (presumably by following some sort of marginal/aggressive fly-back profile)

I also enjoyed the use of the term “solid surface”. I noticed in the announcement a reference to a floating launch pad (first time I’ve ever seen that in writing from SpaceX) so it seems they’re is intentionally keeping its options open on exactly what the returning booster will land on.

As usual, the future is tantalizingly close!

-P. Kees