This is an "unpublished video" on a non-SpaceX YouTube channel. Who uploaded this?
The video appears to be a leak from inside Space X.
Space X CR6 First stage landing
11–20 of 205 posts
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#12What 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?
The goal of the barge landings is to prove they can land precisely in a targeted position repeatedly to prove they are able to touchdown on land without accidentally hitting populated places.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#13This is an "unpublished video" on a non-SpaceX YouTube channel. Who uploaded this?
From reading the comments over on /r/spacex, this looks to originally have been an unlisted video in SpaceX's youtube channel, and shortly after appearing on reddit it was made private. Not before several people had made copies, however, and re-uploaded it (one of those people has the same reddit username as the youtube channel linked here).
That said, impressive video. This shows how close they are truly getting.
Unfortunately, it doesn't stop clickbait headlines that imply that this was a setback (for a while, drudgereport was running a story with the headline akin to "SpaceX rocket fails to land on landing pad"). Maybe that is why the video was made private, out of fear of appearing like a failure.
Of course, now that the cat is out of the bag they are better off embracing the video.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#14What 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?
Since it's empty of fuel, and has big metal engines at the very bottom, the center of gravity is surprisingly low. So it should be fairly stable immediately after landing. And then they plan to secure it so it stays upright.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#15What 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?
I'm not an expert, but here's my understanding:
> What happens once it lands successfully?
It becomes a lot easier to get permission to attempt a landing on dry land. But, as I understand it, they will always need to land some rockets at sea. In the long run, they hope that they can then re-use the rocket, which will drastically reduce the cost of launches.
> Are they perhaps really trying to develop a Dragon landing system?
They almost certainly are, but this is unrelated to that, I believe.
> And using this extra tall rocket as a worst-case scenario?
No. The length of the rocket is ultimately determined by the amount of fuel it needs to carry. The first stage will always be very long like this. Note that this rocket came from a successful mission which launched a Dragon capsule to the ISS on a re-supply/science mission.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#16What 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.
But if the sea is the problem...
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#17This 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
And the vine stops before the explosion.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#18Why did it explode in such a dramatic fashion? I thought the booster was almost entirely empty when it returns to the barge.
There is always some extra fuel and oxidizer, as it is used to slow the vehicle, and is needed until touchdown. If the vehicle were to run out of propellant before landing, it would crash. In addition, the LOX makes any combustion spectacular.
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#19Such a bummer! So close. Keep it up guys, you'll get it soon!
Re: Space X CR6 First stage landing
#20Such a bummer! So close. Keep it up guys, you'll get it soon!
That's two for two for getting to the ship, definitely not a bummer!