SpaceX plans to return rocket to launch site

[red25000A]

The 1st stage is more likely to be recoverable without heavy shielding. Simply discarding the orbital stage could turn out to be more cost effective. Still recovering 9 engines out of 10 though.

Multiple engines aren't that an issue... the r7 (soyuz) launcher is half a century old design and to date is the more reliable orbital launch vehicle despite its multi engine multi chamber design.

[natewebb]

serious question: where do you find space for 2000 liters of hydrazine inside the dragon capsule? This is pure fantasy.

[AeroJimE27]

While challenging, it IS possible to accomplish. So long as the control systems “know” the craft’s attitude, the corrections can be implemented. The challenge is getting reliable data to the control systems and making the engines nimble enough to correct attitude in a rapid fashion.

[LaenPvP]

I've talked with hundreds of former Astronauts, theoretical physicists, Nobel prize winners and they've all had the same collective question about this, all of them wish to know, "but will it blend?"

[seanellisvideos]

The animation style is so much like Rotary Rocket's "Revolution to Orbit" from 1999, it's uncanny. I suppose both missions had similar flight profiles so it's not that surprising, but still.

[yehchidatw]

if this design, was inferior to create a SSTO....my opinion.

[bobosharkey]

We are leaving our future space access in these people's hands? Reusability is great but, K.I.S.S. - too many rocket motors. Learn from the Russians. Can you say N-1?

[frbe0101]

@bobosharkey Because that was 40 years ago and modern computers can manage 9 engines easily so much so that the Falcon 9 rocket can withstand multiple engine failures and still achieve mission success. If you want to complain further the Saturn V had multiple engines (up to 5) and also engine out capability which saved several missions. Having one engine type instead of a having to design, build and test bigger engines saves money.

[bobosharkey]

@frbe0101 8 too many. My prediction is multiple failures involving plumbing and other related issues to having multiple engines. If they prove me wrong - good for them. How many catastrophic failures would they need to have before you would admit to it not saving money?

[jim6584]

@bobosharkey With 9 engines and if 1 fails you're still flying. 1 engine and if it fails you're toast. Of course there could be a plumbing problems, which are usually easier to fix then a rocket engine problem. Usually something without moving parts like a pipe isn't going to fail at the same rate as a moving part.

What are you comparing it to? It isn't like the Shuttle didn't have problems.

[bobosharkey]

@jim6584 The shuttle was an overcomplicated cluster f too. I've been to space x and I know people who have worked there. Trust me, it's another cluster f.

[monokhem]

@bobosharkey You might be taken more seriously if you learned to speel the company's name. I don't think anyone will be trusting you.

[bobosharkey]

@monokhem Stand tall, my friend. You might be the biggest nerd ever!

[monokhem]

@bobosharkey I wish. I'm not even the biggest nerd I know.

[frbe0101]

this is insanity! If they make it work they will make skunkworks look like 3 year olds playing with legos! They will become engineering gods!

[cybertiberium]

not to mention that the weather changes and with that wind will be a problem.

[iLoveYoutuveVideos]

waste of fuel...

[joshcryer]

They're obviously going to take a fuel and payload hit, but look at it this way, say an F9 has an operational life of 5 flights (before the rebuild is basically making a new one), if you fly 4 F9s while taking the fuel and payload hit, those flights are almost 4 free F9s, and they can halve the price per pound for those flights without even taking an economic hit for it. Then the last flight would be full cost (since they're not getting an F9 back).

[voicubogdan84]

Cool!

[DukeNukemIsHere3]

I don't think they would be showing this off if they hadn't figured out a viable way to do this.

[PaddyPatrone]

nice idea but i think its not possible, where are the big fuel tanks on the spaceships

[dsarnold]

Hilarious. Pure fantasy.

[sexydorkmo]

lulz 2:35 star wars transition

[DarthSchwartz]

cool

[ArmyFtBall]

doing a land touchdown in a populated area sounds risky.

[sexydorkmo]

@ArmyFtBall i bet theyll try it out in the ocean first, then the desert. doubt theyd actually do it anywhere near a city till much later. plus im not sure about the downrange of the first stage but i dont think theyd be able to get back to the launch pad, probly just a convienient modeled location in the software or something

[cybertiberium]

to much rocket fuel would need to be carried. and whats wrong with using a parachute still?

[chickenmunt]

@cybertiberium I agree with you, they might be able to try it with the boosters, but the command module and the shield thing are almost certainly out of the question.

I guess the reason they'd want to try this is that it would bring down search and rescue costs and times, and it might be easier on the astronauts' bodies.

They might be planning on using this sort of method for space tourism too, I doubt people would be too happy to land somewhere in the ocean and wait for rescue. :P

[zediir]

@cybertiberium because the amount of forces the stage has to withstand with a parachute landing make it not viable.

[highlander2107]

@cybertiberium It pleasures me that you know so little. This is why they're making rockets and you're stupidly commenting on YouTube videos.

[cybertiberium]

@highlander2107 what information am i missing. thats why they used a parachute in apollo missions. do you know how hard it is getting something to slow down using rockets that are pointing down.

[jim6584]

@cybertiberium The rocket will stop accelerating when it hits terminal velocity (air resistance=gravity). It is going to fall like an arrow, then they'll fire the retro rockets to get it to landing speed. Most of the weight will be at the bottom of the rocket, it will naturally point down.

Parachutes can only be so big. A football field sized parachute isn't possible. It becomes too big to store and it is difficult to get it to open correctly.

[miguelnglopes]

I'll be amazed if they pull this one out!

[ElDiabloGuapo74]

dream on!