Space X CR6 First stage landing

#1

Post by atroyn » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 8:51 PM UTC

Space X CR6 First stage landing
youtube.com

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#2

Post by atroyn » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 8:54 PM UTC

I can't help but feel bad for that one poor little RCS thruster doing its level best to keep the first stage upright, but ultimately running out of fuel.

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#3

Post by filvdg » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 8:57 PM UTC

this footage give a real sense of how close they are to getting it right

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#4

Post by shiftpgdn » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 8:57 PM UTC

Why did it explode in such a dramatic fashion? I thought the booster was almost entirely empty when it returns to the barge.

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#5

Post by corywright » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:00 PM UTC

This is an "unpublished video" on a non-SpaceX YouTube channel. Who uploaded this?

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#6

Post by mrep » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:07 PM UTC

filvdg wrote: post #3

this footage give a real sense of how close they are to getting it right

I agree. I feel like if they had a larger area to land on they would be able to get it. That way, they could focus less on pinpointing the exact position, and more on keeping it upright and stable.

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#7

Post by stevesearer » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:07 PM UTC

corywright wrote: post #5

This is an "unpublished video" on a non-SpaceX YouTube channel. Who uploaded this?

Also somewhat interesting that it appears to be the same angle as the official video posted to Vine [1], only in drastically higher quality.

[1] https://vine.co/v/euEpIVegiIx

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#8

Post by swamp40 » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:08 PM UTC

What happens once it lands successfully?

Won't one stray wave tip it right over into the ocean?

Those landing struts are only 1/10 the length of the rocket.

If this wasn't so tall, it wouldn't be nearly the problem that it is.

Are they perhaps really trying to develop a Dragon landing system?

And using this extra tall rocket as a worst-case scenario?

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#9

Post by revelation » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:10 PM UTC

shiftpgdn wrote: post #4

Why did it explode in such a dramatic fashion? I thought the booster was almost entirely empty when it returns to the barge.

It's hard to appreciate the energy density of the fuel they're using, but this makes for a good example.

Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing

#10

Post by atroyn » Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 9:10 PM UTC

swamp40 wrote: post #8

What happens once it lands successfully? Won't one stray wave tip it right over into the ocean? Those landing struts are only 1/10 the length of the rocket. If this wasn't so tall, it wouldn't be nearly the problem that it is. Are they perhaps really trying to develop a Dragon landing system? And using this extra tall rocket as a worst-case scenario?

Space X would like to return Falcon to dry land, but given the high chance of failure, they're first trying to do it on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" at sea. That way when things go wrong, it's not such a big deal.