3 ms·

My thought (admittedly not well developed) is that smashing into a landing pad of concrete can damage that pad but it can be quickly repaired without affecting

My thought (admittedly not well developed) is that smashing into a landing pad of concrete can damage that pad but it can be quickly repaired without affecting the ability to launch future rockets. If you damage the launch tower significantly you're going to have to suspend launches from it until you fix it. So the "higher risk" is more critical assets offline in the event of a non-optimal return.

rkagerer 2y ago
Understood, although weren't they out of commission for a really long time anyway the last time they damaged their launchpad?
- pfdietz 2y ago
  That was a launch pad, not a recovery pad. The launch pad has to be engineered to survive full thrust from all the engines, and for a rather long time as the loaded vehicle accelerates upward.
  - rkagerer 2y ago
    Thanks for clarifying!
ocdtrekkie 2y ago
Apparently they are heavily investing in having multiple towers ready to go to be able to do multiple successive launches. Presumably with that approach, one being damaged for a while will be annoying but not project-stopping.
creer 2y ago
There are already 2 launch towers (2nd one not quite complete but getting there.)
- creer 2y ago
  Heh Plus one at Kennedy in Florida, LC-39A