SpaceX plans to return rocket to launch site

SpaceX is working toward upgrading its Falcon 9 rocket with the goal of delivering the world's first fully reusable launch vehicle. It's Dragon capsule is already designed for reuse but currently splashes down in the Ocean. Animation courtesy SpaceX

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• spaceX
• return
• to
• launch
• site
• Falcon
• Dragon
• capsule
• spaceship
• rocket
• launcher
• Cape
• Canaveral

[miguelnglopes]

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

[cybertiberium]

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

[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.

[monokhem]

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

[bobosharkey]

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

[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.

[natewebb]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.