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I'm curious what device you would use to "catch it"?

• stcredzero 11y ago
  Something suspended from underneath a large cargo helicopter, or a large cargo helicopter specially constructed for the purpose. As in the Genesis probe, the device would be catching the parachute.
  • lutorm 11y ago
    Mass of genesis probe: 494kg according to Wikipedia. Mass of an empty F9 stage: not public, but http://www.spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-v11.html http://www.spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-v11.html estimated it at 23,000-26,000 kg. That's almost twice the 14,000 kg payload of the heaviest helicopter I could find, the CH-53E. Do you really think designing and building a new helicopter with twice the payload capacity of anything built will be a more cost-effective plan?
    • stcredzero 11y ago
      That's incredibly light! It couldn't be done with an existing helicopter, but it could be done with an airplane. Do you really think designing and building a new helicopter with twice the payload capacity of anything built will be a more cost-effective plan? Specifically for the Falcon 9, no. For the record, I think SpaceX knows what it's doing, and if they've concluded landing the 1st stage is the best way to go, it probably is. But it's fun to think about spacecraft recovery and huge machines. (Unless you're being piled on by tons of emotional HN commenters who imagine you holding strawman positions and speaking in imagined tones.)