5 ms·
The idea of the hoverslam is to arrive at zero vertical velocity at exactly zero altitude. This is complicated, but can be done fairly reliably when "zero altit
by olex 9y ago
The idea of the hoverslam is to arrive at zero vertical velocity at exactly zero altitude. This is complicated, but can be done fairly reliably when "zero altitude" is stationary - on land landings or drone ship in calm seas. In heavy seas as today, the drone ship deck is pitching up and down, and it's really hard to predict the altitude it will be at the exact moment of touchdown. If I had to guess, I'd say the calculations are done against the highest possible or average position of the deck, and during today's landing it was at its lowest point at the moment of arrival, causing the stage to drop the last meter or so. This is what the crush cores in the landing legs are for :)
- wereHamster 9y agoI wonder if they will build more stable landing platforms. If you look at oil drilling rigs, they stay calm even in relatively heavy waters.
- syngrog66 9y agoI believe oil rigs are heavily anchored. I believe the barge either has no anchors, or less (or less massive ones.)
- wereHamster 9y agoIt's not about having anchors, it's about not being affected by the top layer of water which moves up and down due to waves. If you submerge (your center of gravity) just a few meters under the surface, you'll suddenly be much more stable and much less affected by the waves. Oil rigs, just like ice bergs, have a large part that is submerged and invisible on the surface. Look at this for example: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/73/64/d6/7364d6da312c88b9b6f83dd21734a7b5.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/73/64/d6/7364d6da3...
- ceejayoz 9y agoAn even better example of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RP_FLIP https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RP_FLIP
- andygates 9y agoThe problem with a rig is all that vertical structure. It limits where the vessel can be towed to for offloading. To get this rocket off, they need a regular commercial dock. I'm pretty sure they already flood the ballast tanks for stability.
- Symmetry 9y agoThat's presumably part of the reason that Blue is planning on using a much heavier ship.
- simonh 9y agoBut oil rigs aren't easily movable, and they will want to get the rocket back to land. I suppose they could crane it across onto a drone ship barge, but landing directly on the barge in the first place seems to be working out ok so far and saves a huge amount of extra cost, time and trouble.