2 ms·
Not really... you'd still have to do the earlier burns to slow the stage down enough that it doesn't break up in the atmosphere, and the burn to boost it back t
by JshWright 13y ago
Not really... you'd still have to do the earlier burns to slow the stage down enough that it doesn't break up in the atmosphere, and the burn to boost it back to the launch site. The parachutes would just save the final 'hover slam' burn, but the terminal velocity of a practically empty first stage is already pretty low, and the complexity of a parachute system wouldn't be offset by the minimal savings in speed reduction.
- bronson 13y agoPlus, if you're aiming for a target on the ground, the atmospheric effects (wind) on a parachute would be severe. You'd probably burn as much fuel recovering from the parachute's meandering miles off target as you would just slowing the ballistic final leg. (not sure though, -ENOMATH)
- rbanffy 13y agoIIRC, they actually considered it, but the parachute, plus its pyros and extra equipment were heavier than the extra fuel for braking. Parachutes are very useful when you don't have engines powerful enough to slow you down, but the whole purpose of this is the controlled landing of nine very powerful engines.