SpaceX Falcon 9 historic landing thread (1st landing attempt & most recent missions)

[Ronz Rocketz]

Citation needed

The video above...

Seventh flight for the booster...

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/202...n 9's first flight,the time — in October 2020.

 

[Nytrunner]

Wasnt talking about the reflights, i was joking about your paint opinion

 

[Mushtang]

SN9 is repaired and heading the launch pad.

 

[Peartree]

SN9 is repaired and heading the launch pad.

Another first. First 1:1 scale rocket to get dropped, gave the damage "buffed out," and launched anyway.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

What it would look like if SpaceX was Thunderbirds.

 

[JoePfeiffer]

At what point will they start painting the boosters grey? White should be for disposable rockets only...

I'll guess "never". They *want* you to be able to tell a new from used booster.

 

[modeltrains]

At what point will they start painting the boosters grey?

If the decision were mine I'd select a grey which varied wildly in apparent tone and hue in different light, just to mess with the model builders.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I'll guess "never". They *want* you to be able to tell a new from used booster.

Obviously they bought a lot of white/black paint but can't use it until the moon starship and the paint expiration date is approaching.

 

[modeltrains]

Obviously they bought a lot of white/black paint but can't use it until the moon starship and the paint expiration date is approaching.

And that brings to mind ...
this quote of John Berkey in book The Art of John Berkey, by Jane Frank

Source: https://adamrowe.substack.com/p/book-notes-the-art-of-john-berkey

 

[manixFan]

Really awesome 4K footage of SN8 highlights:




Tony

 

[modeltrains]

Really awesome 4K footage of SN8 highlights:

That was some serious hard-core coolness.

Yeah, that was cool,
but ...
the real question is ...
...
How long until you can get Estes at Walmart which flips and lands?
(successfully, that is)

 

[cvanc]

Have we heard anything yet on SN8 failure analysis and/or SN9 changes/mods made to prevent a repeat?

 

[manixFan]

Have we heard anything yet on SN8 failure analysis and/or SN9 changes/mods made to prevent a repeat?

Almost immediately Musk posted it was low pressure in the header tanks that supply fuel during the landing burn. The fix is pretty obvious.


Tony

 

[georgegassaway]

What it would look like if SpaceX was Thunderbirds[/MEDIA]

Oh, I do not think I posted this here, but think I did in the LOL thread.


And a side by side comparison:

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Is this the new primer coat?

 

[OverTheTop]

Still in transport wrap maybe?

 

[modeltrains]

Is this the new primer coat?

I'm expecting not. After years looking at stainless steel rail cars in both person and photo I'm expecting it is simply the bare metal reflecting the shaded interior of the building.

 

[modeltrains]

Ah, here we go, stainless steel in shadow can appear pretty dark in photos,
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/653959/

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I'm expecting not. After years looking at stainless steel rail cars in both person and photo I'm expecting it is simply the bare metal reflecting the shaded interior of the building.

That makes sense. I was thinking the light part in the middle was where the didn't coat, now realize it's the door reflection.

 

[modeltrains]

Hey, why not,

3:07 PM BlisterHiker The future of stacking is flying Starship and landing it on top of the booster before launch

just seen on chat on live feed,

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Hey, why not,

just seen on chat on live feed,

If they can do it in Thunderbirds then why not.

 

[Andy Greene]

Is Space X Not launching from the Cape tonight- Im certain I heard they where , but there is no link to live feed - Help me out here .

 

[CalebJ]

Is Space X Not launching from the Cape tonight- Im certain I heard they where , but there is no link to live feed - Help me out here .

Looks like it's been pushed.

 

[boatgeek]

Latest Starship so-crazy-it-almost-makes-sense plan: catch the Super Heavy booster by the grid fins with the launch tower to save the weight of landing legs.

https://arstechnica.com/science/202...o-catch-a-falling-rocket-with-a-launch-tower/
As the comments say, it should be fun seeing the number of explosions needed to make this one work. Although I'd hazard a guess that if they go ahead with this plan, it won't be the grid fins they catch but something connected to the lifting lugs they'll already have at the top of the booster. That seems waaay less Rube Goldberg than catching by the grid fins.

 

[davel]

Looks like it's been pushed.

@EmreKelly
Weather expected at 80% go for Wednesday’s #Turksat launch from Cape Canaveral. Window opens at 2028 ET.

 

[davel]

Latest Starship so-crazy-it-almost-makes-sense plan: catch the Super Heavy booster by the grid fins with the launch tower to save the weight of landing legs.

https://arstechnica.com/science/202...o-catch-a-falling-rocket-with-a-launch-tower/
As the comments say, it should be fun seeing the number of explosions needed to make this one work. Although I'd hazard a guess that if they go ahead with this plan, it won't be the grid fins they catch but something connected to the lifting lugs they'll already have at the top of the booster. That seems waaay less Rube Goldberg than catching by the grid fins.

 

[Mushtang]

That's so crazy... that it just, might, work!

 

[Huxter]

Absolutely crazy idea - looks like "Robot Jox" to me! But I would not put it past Elon! Can't wait to see this one!

 

[Charles_McG]

The Arstechnica article may say to save mass, but I thought it was to avoid having to get landing precision down from feet to inches and to reduce exhaust impingement on the launch stand. Hovering over a spot +/- the spread of the grids vs directly setting back down on the launch stand.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

The Arstechnica article may say to save mass, but I thought it was to avoid having to get landing precision down from feet to inches and to reduce exhaust impingement on the launch stand. Hovering over a spot +/- the spread of the grids vs directly setting back down on the launch stand.

You're probably right. Concrete doesn't really like having a blowtorch applied. It's a little different with a steel boat deck.