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I wonder if they will build more stable landing platforms. If you look at oil drilling rigs, they stay calm even in relatively heavy waters.
by wereHamster 9y ago
I 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.