Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 SpaceX "chopsticks" catch of booster! It had to adjust a little at the end, but: 3 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 This just posted. Fast forward to about 6:30 if you only want to see the catch. 3 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 We are definitely moving into the age of sci-fi becoming reality. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Lizard Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 Now how do they get it down???? Texas Lizard 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 OMG!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Harley, #14153 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 Speechless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 Way cool, but it left me with two questions: 1. Is the booster going to be reusable? 2. If so, is the expense saved by this catch going to be significantly less that the actual cost of retrieving the booster? If it didn't save a ton of money to retrieve a workable booster or if this was just a "look what we can do" experiment, what was gained? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Joker Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 (edited) Cheaper and faster turn around than the falcon style retrieval. Reusable Edited October 13 by Texas Joker 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 5 hours ago, Texas Lizard said: Now how do they get it down???? Texas Lizard If I'm reading things right, they don't. See below. 1 hour ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: Way cool, but it left me with two questions: 1. Is the booster going to be reusable? 2. If so, is the expense saved by this catch going to be significantly less that the actual cost of retrieving the booster? If it didn't save a ton of money to retrieve a workable booster or if this was just a "look what we can do" experiment, what was gained? It's reusable. If there isn't damage from the clamps, that is. Savings in transportation time and cost. Even the ones that land back on solid ground have to be transported several miles. See: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/in-engineering-feat-by-spacex-mechanical-arms-catch-starship-booster-back-at-its-launch-pad And, from https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/spacex-catches-huge-booster-back-at-launch-pad-9f29819c. (Paywall, so all I could read is the tease) "The idea behind catching the booster is that SpaceX could, in the future, stack the Starship spacecraft back on top of one that landed at a pad and quickly launch again." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 I believe the chopsticks are attached to an elevator-like structure that will lower the booster down on the launch platform. Frankly, I think this is an optical delusion. Just like landing Falcon 9 boosters...like aligning a Minuteman I guidance system...it's all done with mirrors! We'll see if this booster will be refurbished and reflown and caught again! Then, the next thing will be sending the Spaceship into Low Earth Orbit, and then possibly landing it. Anyway, congratulations, SpaceX! Moon, here we come. (Nevermind Artemis!) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 2 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said: Moon, here we come Sic itur ad astra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 6 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: Sic itur ad astra! Thus what to the stars? Ny Latin is a little rusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 13 Author Share Posted October 13 1 hour ago, Trailrider #896 said: Thus what to the stars? Ny Latin is a little rusty. Thus one journeys to the stars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 On 10/13/2024 at 9:02 AM, Texas Lizard said: Now how do they get it down???? Texas Lizard Very carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 This one probably won't be refurbished though parts of it might. I'm amazed by how the engineers have simplified the boosters, there is much to learn by taking this one apart to build it better next time. Look at what they have done with the booster rocket: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 On 10/13/2024 at 2:44 PM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: was just a "look what we can do" experiment, what was gained This gets my vote! But I think it was pretty darn cool. Having cameras on everything was pretty neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 Just a tiny bit of damage to the tower, this happened due to the angle the rocket came in at, a bit of exhaust blast: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 Just WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 16 Author Share Posted October 16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 16 Author Share Posted October 16 Perspective. How big is it? 23 story building big. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 19 hours ago, John Kloehr said: Just a tiny bit of damage to the tower, this happened due to the angle the rocket came in at, a bit of exhaust blast: Where on tower is that section? Everything I saw was open truss type construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said: Where on tower is that section? Everything I saw was open truss type construction. Lower section facing the rocket side: The angle of the rocket coming in blasted it pretty hard: 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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