3 ms·
That would require significantly more fuel and a different design, likely limiting the Dragon's crew payload. This abort happened after the rocket reached max
by mechhacker 7y ago
That would require significantly more fuel and a different design, likely limiting the Dragon's crew payload.
This abort happened after the rocket reached max Q (highest dynamic pressure) when it was flying East (and still upward, but to get to orbit you must fly sideways over water). Returning West to get back over land would be fuel prohibitive on a fully loaded crew capsule.
The reusable falcon 9 stages have almost nothing in them when they fly back to land.
See trajectories:
https://i.redd.it/xaisqxao5ef01.png https://i.redd.it/xaisqxao5ef01.png
- whoisthemachine 7y agoFor an abort, a water landing definitely makes sense. Perhaps there is no way to avoid the tough weather requirements for the downrange abort. The lengthy recovery time still seems due to the water landing, however. I wonder if it will be a 2 hour recovery time during normal water landing?
- whoisthemachine 7y agoI still wonder how much more difficult it is to get proper weather conditions over open sea vs. land when preparing to land during a normal flight. I'd imagine strong winds become stronger over sea than over land, and of course, the ability for ships to reach you in choppy seas becomes much more difficult.