3 ms·
Newton's approximation for impact depth [1] gives a way to calculate how thick the barge deck would have to be to survive a high speed impact from the rocket st
by dzdt 10y ago
Newton's approximation for impact depth [1] gives a way to calculate how thick the barge deck would have to be to survive a high speed impact from the rocket stage. The impactor punches through until it has displaced an equal mass. An empty F9 stage masses about 23,100kg and has a diameter of 3.66m. [2] Steel has a density around 7,700 kg/m^3. Doing the math, the deck would need to be about 29 cm thick to survive a high speed impact. Estimates are the actual barge deck is 25-35 mm thick [3], so 1/10th that thickness. If the F9 stage came down onto the barge completely uncontrolled, it probably would punch through!
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_depth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_depth
[2] http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/falcon-9-v1-1-f9r/ http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/falcon-9-v1-1-f9r/
[3] http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/8842/what-is-the-spacex-barge-topped-with http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/8842/what-is-the-sp...
- mikeash 10y agoPunch through the deck. Which we already know can happen, the SES-9 landing attempt punched a nice hole in the deck. But you'd need to punch all the way through the hull to even think about sinking the barge, and of course the barge is built with compartments so even that wouldn't do it.
- dzdt 10y agoI expect the hull is thinner than the deck: it isn't designed to hold up to a rocket blowtorching and landing. But good point about compartments: the barge may well be able to survive a rocket-sized hole punched through it!