4 ms·

Maybe this is a stupid question but why do they land that thing on floating vessel vs. fixed target on land? Seems like it will be more difficult to manage this

Maybe this is a stupid question but why do they land that thing on floating vessel vs. fixed target on land? Seems like it will be more difficult to manage this in the ocean given that the vessel itself is moving around with the ebbs and flows of the waves..

DigitalJack 11y ago
Most of the earth is water. The launch vehicle travels a significant lateral distance and the can burn less fuel getting to a nearby boat vs far away land.
nocarrier 11y ago
It's harder to land on water but it requires less fuel overall, and is safer. Check out the launch/recovery diagram on this article and it will become more obvious why it would require more fuel to return the booster to land: http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-success-falcon-9-rocket-barge-at-sea http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-suc...
mkehrt 11y ago
Probably because that's the direction the rocket is going: out over the Atlantic.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
gozur88 11y ago
The ocean landing is more difficult. But you have to realize getting to orbit is not about height, it's about speed. By the time the first stage is separated the rocket is going 3000 m/sec away from the launch pad. It takes a lot of fuel to arrest that motion and go back the other way, whereas the barge will be right where you want to land given the situation at separation.
wsinks 11y ago
I don't think this is a stupid question, and the Verge came up with a very similar response to what I would think. Having a barge that can be compensating for current wind conditions could enable SpaceX to launch at more times than previous - expanding their launch windows AND launch points. Let's see what the Verge says: http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-success-falcon-9-rocket-barge-at-sea http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-suc... The main part that they point out that I wasn't thinking of is fuel. They're saving on putting fuel into the rocket because they are now putting that fuel in the place that weight doesn't matter - in the sea. Literally. Weight doesn't matter there - they can create a larger platform (preferable) to put even more fuel into! ..pretty brilliant if you ask me. :)

DigitalJack 11y ago

Most of the earth is water. The launch vehicle travels a significant lateral distance and the can burn less fuel getting to a nearby boat vs far away land.

nocarrier 11y ago

It's harder to land on water but it requires less fuel overall, and is safer. Check out the launch/recovery diagram on this article and it will become more obvious why it would require more fuel to return the booster to land: http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-success-falcon-9-rocket-barge-at-sea http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-suc...

mkehrt 11y ago

Probably because that's the direction the rocket is going: out over the Atlantic.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

gozur88 11y ago

The ocean landing is more difficult. But you have to realize getting to orbit is not about height, it's about speed. By the time the first stage is separated the rocket is going 3000 m/sec away from the launch pad. It takes a lot of fuel to arrest that motion and go back the other way, whereas the barge will be right where you want to land given the situation at separation.

wsinks 11y ago

I don't think this is a stupid question, and the Verge came up with a very similar response to what I would think. Having a barge that can be compensating for current wind conditions could enable SpaceX to launch at more times than previous - expanding their launch windows AND launch points. Let's see what the Verge says: http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-success-falcon-9-rocket-barge-at-sea http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/8/11392138/spacex-landing-suc... The main part that they point out that I wasn't thinking of is fuel. They're saving on putting fuel into the rocket because they are now putting that fuel in the place that weight doesn't matter - in the sea. Literally. Weight doesn't matter there - they can create a larger platform (preferable) to put even more fuel into! ..pretty brilliant if you ask me. :)