4 ms·
Did they ever try catching it mid air? Something like a hook to helicopter perhaps? $6 mil is big number not to try.
by praveen9920 6y ago
Did they ever try catching it mid air? Something like a hook to helicopter perhaps? $6 mil is big number not to try.
- NortySpock 6y agoDepending on the launch trajectory, these fairings come down between 40 km and 1400km offshore. So you either need a helicopter with incredible range and dwell time, or a boat with a helicopter pad AND a place to put the fairing if you catch it. Say you catch the fairing. Great, now you have a giant composite/plastic sail, the size of school bus, bouncing around in your rotor downdraft. Not exactly the safest thing, and you're over water so you can't just put down anywhere. So, it's complicated, and SpaceX decided to go with a boat rather than a helicopter-and-a-boat. https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-mr-steven-renamed-falcon-heavy-fairing-catch/ https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-mr-steven-renamed-falcon-he... https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/8/21213917/rocket-lab-rocket-electron-helicopters-reusable-mid-air-catch https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/8/21213917/rocket-lab-rocket... Rocketlab first stage catch demo; they've got a heavy stage to catch (with heavy engines at the bottom to act as a counterweight) and it's not nearly as big as the Falcon 9 booster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3CWGDhkmbs&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3CWGDhkmbs&feature=emb_titl...
- AtlasBarfed 6y agoBalloons! But yeah, the boat is probably simpler / cheaper.