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Does anyone know how do they "secure" it to the drone?
by verytrivial 11y ago
Does anyone know how do they "secure" it to the drone?
- JshWright 11y agoThey weld "shoes" onto the deck that hold the tips of the legs.
- verytrivial 11y agoThanks. I was trying to picture a fixing mechanism that could work over the entire surface, but hey, all the metal is meltable!
- mbreese 11y agoIs it an instantaneous weld that happens on landing?
- extrapickles 11y agoNo, they probably fly several people out on a helicopter.
- InclinedPlane 11y agoAnd land it where? It's easier to just use a boat.
- JshWright 11y agoThere is a support ship nearby. The Go Quest.
- hparton 11y agoEngineers are waiting on a vessel a safe distance away in case the landing doesn't go well. Then they go in and weld the feet once the rocket has vented the leftover LOX (Liquid Oxygen). I think they are also attaching guide wires to the top, but i can't confirm that.
- JshWright 11y agoNo. They really don't need anything that instantaneous. The center of gravity of the rocket is _very_ low. The rocket is basically a bunch of really heavy engines and a couple thin walled propellant tanks. Those tanks are very close to empty at this point (the heavier propellant, kerosene, is in the lower tank). It's quite stable. The welded shoes are just a 'belt and suspenders' approach.
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- grondilu 11y agoI don't think there is any clamping mechanism if that's what you're talking about. Apparently they rely on the sea being calm enough not to make the rocket tilt over. Also remember that the tanks are mostly empty so the center of gravity is fairly low.
- jccooper 11y agoThey have jacks that attach to the hold-down points; those jacks will probably be welded to the deck. Elon also mentioned the metal shoes over the legs some time ago, and they may also have those, but there's less evidence of those. (You can see the jacks on the deck of the barge in various photos and videos.)