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I get super jazzed by everything SpaceX does, this was no different. My one question was about the idea that it could just refuel and take off again. I see two
by wuliwong 12y ago
I get super jazzed by everything SpaceX does, this was no different.
My one question was about the idea that it could just refuel and take off again. I see two issues. First, it appears that it sustains some pretty significant damage upon re-entry, I'm guessing there are probably some repairs needed before relaunching. Second, it seems to launch with some sort of first stage rocket which is detached and presumably is lost or at very least, dropped into an ocean with a parachute? So, although the Dragon can land anywhere, it still needs this other stage to be recovered and attached. With regards to reusability, it doesn't appear to be a huge leap beyond the space shuttle.
I'm sure the process of repairing, reattaching, and refueling are more efficient with the dragon v2 vs the space shuttle but the presentation making the specific claim that the dragon v2 just needs to be refueled and it can launch again seemed false.
- smackfu 12y agoIt all comes down to, "Do you need to tear the thing to pieces between every flight to do inspections?" SpaceX says they don't, NASA did do that for the Shuttle (at least for the main engines).