3 ms·
Yes, it's called a boostback burn, and it's been a part of every landing attempt thus far. The first stage has burned so much fuel at the stage separation that
by elmin 12y ago
Yes, it's called a boostback burn, and it's been a part of every landing attempt thus far. The first stage has burned so much fuel at the stage separation that it takes much less to return it home than it did to accelerate it. You are correct though that it limits the payload capacity of the platform.
I believe the Falcon Heavy animation shows the rockets returning to the launch site.
- garretruh 12y agoThis launch was/is going to be the first one without a boost back. Because of DSCOVR's mass and destination (Earth-Sun L1 point), there isn't enough fuel to make a boost back burn. That's why the barge is ~650 km off the coast[0] instead of the 350 km it was for CRS-5[1]. [0] https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.kQXYPcLW76sw https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.kQ... [1] https://mapsengine.google.com/map/u/0/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.koWeOnV6-O-o https://mapsengine.google.com/map/u/0/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERV...
- pbreit 12y agoAlso, aren't they planning to launch from California and/or Texas in the future?
- mikeash 12y agoThey've already launched from California, at Vandenberg AFB. They've begun constructing a drone ship for landing future rockets launched from Vandenberg, named Of Course I Still Love You (the one currently in use for KSC launches is called Just Read the Instructions). And yes, they are currently constructing a new spaceport in Texas near Brownsville at the far southeastern corner of the state. Completion and first launches are anticipated in 2016. I'd guess they might use the current drone ship for landings from that one as well, but a lot can change in 2+ years so we'll have to see.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]