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I hadn't known that. Is that a center engine? Intuitively it seems like more would be better so that in the case of that engine failing you could use the oth
by jdeibele 3y ago
I hadn't known that. Is that a center engine?
Intuitively it seems like more would be better so that in the case of that engine failing you could use the other engines to push up and maybe light another engine.
Of course, if there's two engines and one fails, it's going to tilt. Same with 3, though to a lesser degree. 4 engines lessen it even more, etc. etc.
Or maybe they can detect a bad center engine on descent (it doesn't light or flame is detectably not the right) and then go to outer engines. Or drop it in the ocean. Hope there aren't people on that one.
- ceejayoz 3y ago> Intuitively it seems like more would be better so that in the case of that engine failing you could use the other engines to push up and maybe light another engine. The landing F9 first stage is so light even one engine at minimum throttle has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one; they can't throttle it down enough to hover. Three lit engines would send it shooting back up rapidly.