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Someone may have asked this already, but why not use some kind of system similar to "mobile" oil rigs? The kind that float into place, partially submerge, then

Someone may have asked this already, but why not use some kind of system similar to "mobile" oil rigs? The kind that float into place, partially submerge, then tether to the sea floor? Seems like the best of both worlds to me... [edit]...It could also serve as the launching platform. In this way the launch/recovery pad could be floated to the rocket, boarded and built, moved into position near the equator, then launch and recover.

ptio 12y ago
That's what Sea Launch used[1]. Note that the drone ship doubles up as a recovery vehicle to ferry back the stage to land. Also a sea launch platform will be a permanent structure while the drone ship's purpose is to be a test platform for landing on land. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Launch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Launch