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SpaceX is Building a Vertical Take of and Landing, Reusable Launch Vehicle

40 points by FrojoS 15y ago

Here is a more informative link that I wish I had provided instead: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-the-box-again-meet-the-grasshopper/

JshWright 15y ago
s/Lunch/Launch/ (I hope...)
- mortice 15y ago
  You don't hope for vehicles delivering reusable lunch? I can't imagine anything better.
- FrojoS 15y ago
  Thanks, I fixed it. Here is a link with some more info: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-the-box-again-meet-the-grasshopper/ http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-th...
- CWuestefeld 15y ago
  s/Lunch/Launch/ Isn't that the intended usage? See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Out_Space_Nuts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Out_Space_Nuts
pbreit 15y ago
Keep on the lookout for a SpaceX launch to the space station in December or January (unfortunately delayed by recent Soyuz failure).
- Nick_C 15y ago
  The Russians have said nyet to that. Probably politics at play--no doubt they are enjoying the kudos from being the sole supplier--so it may change.
wanderful 15y ago
Does anyone know how this compares to Armadillo Airspace's VTOL technology, and what Armadillo's long term strategy is for its technology?
- maaku 15y ago
  Two totally different things. This is for recovery of their (SpaceX's) first stage rocket.
  - wanderful 15y ago
    If both are using VTOL, one for a small object, one for a large, how is it all that different?
    - maaku 15y ago
      Because the design requirements and capabilities that result are entirely different.
JshWright 15y ago
Does this capability have any purpose here on earth? Seems like a difficult way to get to 10,000 feet...
- InclinedPlane 15y ago
  These are test flights to simulate some of the conditions the actual, practical vehicle would experience. The end goal is to create a reusable first stage for the Falcon 9. It would operate similar to the normal Falcon 9 during launch, after it burned through its main propellant store it would separate from the rest of the stack (which would then proceed on ahead as usual) then undertake a short burn with a single engine to decelerate the 1st stage (which, at this stage, carries no upper stages, payload, and is mostly empty of fuel, so it is a much easier task than on the way up) enough to prevent it from breaking apart when it contacts the atmosphere. Then, the 1st stage will reenter (somewhat gently), parachutes will open to slow the atmospheric descent and finally small thrusters will guide the stage to a soft, safe landing (perhaps back at the original launch location, perhaps at some other location downrange). Later the recovered 1st stage would be refurbished and returned to service as part of another Falcon 9. Done properly this should reduce the cost of launches by about another order of magnitude over the Falcon's already ridiculously low costs.
geuis 15y ago
Actual article, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=38546 http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=38546

40 points by FrojoS 15y ago

Here is a more informative link that I wish I had provided instead: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-the-box-again-meet-the-grasshopper/

JshWright 15y ago

s/Lunch/Launch/ (I hope...)

mortice 15y ago
You don't hope for vehicles delivering reusable lunch? I can't imagine anything better.
FrojoS 15y ago
Thanks, I fixed it. Here is a link with some more info: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-the-box-again-meet-the-grasshopper/ http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-th...
CWuestefeld 15y ago
s/Lunch/Launch/ Isn't that the intended usage? See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Out_Space_Nuts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Out_Space_Nuts

pbreit 15y ago

Keep on the lookout for a SpaceX launch to the space station in December or January (unfortunately delayed by recent Soyuz failure).

Nick_C 15y ago
The Russians have said nyet to that. Probably politics at play--no doubt they are enjoying the kudos from being the sole supplier--so it may change.

wanderful 15y ago

Does anyone know how this compares to Armadillo Airspace's VTOL technology, and what Armadillo's long term strategy is for its technology?

maaku 15y ago
Two totally different things. This is for recovery of their (SpaceX's) first stage rocket.
- wanderful 15y ago
  If both are using VTOL, one for a small object, one for a large, how is it all that different?
  - maaku 15y ago
    Because the design requirements and capabilities that result are entirely different.

JshWright 15y ago

Does this capability have any purpose here on earth? Seems like a difficult way to get to 10,000 feet...

InclinedPlane 15y ago
These are test flights to simulate some of the conditions the actual, practical vehicle would experience. The end goal is to create a reusable first stage for the Falcon 9. It would operate similar to the normal Falcon 9 during launch, after it burned through its main propellant store it would separate from the rest of the stack (which would then proceed on ahead as usual) then undertake a short burn with a single engine to decelerate the 1st stage (which, at this stage, carries no upper stages, payload, and is mostly empty of fuel, so it is a much easier task than on the way up) enough to prevent it from breaking apart when it contacts the atmosphere. Then, the 1st stage will reenter (somewhat gently), parachutes will open to slow the atmospheric descent and finally small thrusters will guide the stage to a soft, safe landing (perhaps back at the original launch location, perhaps at some other location downrange). Later the recovered 1st stage would be refurbished and returned to service as part of another Falcon 9. Done properly this should reduce the cost of launches by about another order of magnitude over the Falcon's already ridiculously low costs.

geuis 15y ago

Actual article, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=38546 http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=38546