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SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

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Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#21

Post by eganist »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #17
eganist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The high velocity drone ship landing (#3) landed too hard and was deemed unusable for launch duty (Edit 1: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 ), so realistically, it's likely just two of the four so far. Edit 2: per mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the correction, Mike! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/7342743…

Nope, wrong. It took as much damage as any returning stage could be expected to, but is still reusable.

> Nope, wrong. It took as much damage as any returning stage could be expected to, but is still reusable.

Edited my comment with source tweet from Elon.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648

It's very likely not going to fly again.

Edit 2: per user mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the kind correction, Mike! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/734274360588926976

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#22

Post by mikeash »

eganist wrote: post #21
InclinedPlane wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, wrong. It took as much damage as any returning stage could be expected to, but is still reusable.

> Nope, wrong. It took as much damage as any returning stage could be expected to, but is still reusable. Edited my comment with source tweet from Elon. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 It's very likely not going to fly again. Edit 2: per user mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the kind correction, Mike! https://…

"Max damage" doesn't imply unflyable. A later tweet clarified that it's capable of flying again. They'd rather keep it for extensive testing, though, as an example of the most extreme conditions. It won't fly again, but not because it's too busted.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#23

Post by iamcreasy »

eganist wrote: post #14
51Cards wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4 now, though the first one is going on display at their headquarters. I believe the second one is going to be examined and undergo ground testing only (might be wrong on that). So that leaves just the third and now this one as candidates for re-flight. I like being able to use the term "re-flight".

The high velocity drone ship landing (#3) landed too hard and was deemed unusable for launch duty (Edit 1: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 ), so realistically, it's likely just two of the four so far. Edit 2: per mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the correction, Mike! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/7342743…

That's not what he said. He said SpaceX will start testing with the booster that took the most damage, because if it works well then there is high chance that the others will work too.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#24

Post by iamcreasy »

kevan wrote: post #4

It's almost like this is becoming a regular occurrence. I'm looking forward to the next generation looking back on this and being incredulous that we used to completely throw away boosters on every launch.

"I think we will be successful - ironically - when it becomes boring." - Elon Musk

At the NASA press conference after the first successful drone ship landing.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#25

Post by gozur88 »

eganist wrote: post #14
51Cards wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4 now, though the first one is going on display at their headquarters. I believe the second one is going to be examined and undergo ground testing only (might be wrong on that). So that leaves just the third and now this one as candidates for re-flight. I like being able to use the term "re-flight".

The high velocity drone ship landing (#3) landed too hard and was deemed unusable for launch duty (Edit 1: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 ), so realistically, it's likely just two of the four so far. Edit 2: per mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the correction, Mike! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/7342743…

The problem isn't that it landed hard, it's that it had to slow down very quickly. That's going to be the case for any GTO launch, including today's flight.

From what I understand there was heat damage around the engines.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#26

Post by eganist »

mikeash wrote: post #22
eganist wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nope, wrong. It took as much damage as any returning stage could be expected to, but is still reusable. Edited my comment with source tweet from Elon. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 It's very likely not going to fly again. Edit 2: per user mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the kind correction, Mike! https://…

"Max damage" doesn't imply unflyable. A later tweet clarified that it's capable of flying again. They'd rather keep it for extensive testing, though, as an example of the most extreme conditions. It won't fly again, but not because it's too busted.

Edit: disregard per Mike's comment below.

I would think if damage was within tolerances (even at the maximum of such), they'd be willing to relaunch. Implications from the tweet and subsequent conversations are that the damage exceeded thresholds to guarantee safe future flight, which is why they'd use it for testing on the ground.

I'd still read his tweet as meaning it's "too busted" to fly, but I suppose it's up to each person's own interpretation. Your point is well received.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#27

Post by eganist »

gozur88 wrote: post #25
eganist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The high velocity drone ship landing (#3) landed too hard and was deemed unusable for launch duty (Edit 1: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/731984739012251648 ), so realistically, it's likely just two of the four so far. Edit 2: per mikeash, it's definitely flyable (i.e. I'm wrong), but it'll still be grounded to aid with testing efforts. Thanks for the correction, Mike! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/7342743…

The problem isn't that it landed hard, it's that it had to slow down very quickly. That's going to be the case for any GTO launch, including today's flight. From what I understand there was heat damage around the engines.

Thanks for the clarification. I'd read that elsewhere but couldn't ID a source in time. Where've you seen that?

The good news there is that it might mean the rocket can be rehabilitated if needed since structural damage would be less likely.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#28

Post by mikeash »

eganist wrote: post #26
mikeash wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Max damage" doesn't imply unflyable. A later tweet clarified that it's capable of flying again. They'd rather keep it for extensive testing, though, as an example of the most extreme conditions. It won't fly again, but not because it's too busted.

Edit: disregard per Mike's comment below. I would think if damage was within tolerances (even at the maximum of such), they'd be willing to relaunch. Implications from the tweet and subsequent conversations are that the damage exceeded thresholds to guarantee safe future flight, which is why they'd use it for testing on the ground. I'd still read his tweet as meaning it's "too busted" to fly, but I suppose it's up to…

No need look for implications, there was a clear statement that it's flyable:

https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/73427436058892697...

It's being recruited as the testing leader because it represents the extreme, not because it's grounded.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#29

Post by woodandsteel »

vvanders wrote: post #2

If anyone was wondering about repeatability I think they're well on the way to putting that to rest.

They're landing so many, pretty soon they are going to have to open up a used booster sales lot.

Speaking of which, when the first booster landed successfully, someone put up a gag Craigslist ad for a used booster ("only used once, excellent condition") but it got taken down quickly, unfortunately.

Re: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage has landed (again)

#30

Post by gozur88 »

eganist wrote: post #27
gozur88 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't that it landed hard, it's that it had to slow down very quickly. That's going to be the case for any GTO launch, including today's flight. From what I understand there was heat damage around the engines.

Thanks for the clarification. I'd read that elsewhere but couldn't ID a source in time. Where've you seen that? The good news there is that it might mean the rocket can be rehabilitated if needed since structural damage would be less likely.

Nothing official. This is based on comments (at Ars, I think) from people who studied the pictures closely.

According to the latest Musk tweets today's rocket was actually somewhat damaged in the landing - the scrificial "crush core" was, well, crushed.

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