Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS-16

Thunder Chicken

Fine Threads since 2008
Donator
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
4,327
Reaction score
3,248
Points
138
Location
Massachusetts
Well, another mission success for SpaceX, but the 1st stage had a bad day and didn't make it back to LZ-1. Hydraulic pump stalled and the stage soft landed in the water just off shore. Hard to believe, but the last landing failure was nearly 2.5 years ago.


It appears that the stage landed intact and was still transmitting telemetry. Might be recoverable after a fashion, at least for diagnosis.


Musk is saying if the stage is not so damaged as to need retirement, it might be used on an internal SpaceX mission, maybe Starlink.


Amphibious reusable rockets. :huh:






---------- Post added at 07:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------

Stabilized footage of water touchdown:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=1l0712ILwN4&feature=youtu.be


And it is intact and floating:


[ame="https://twitter.com/DaneDrefke/status/1070405921329815552"]Dane Drefke on Twitter: "Currently drifting south offshore.… "[/ame]
 
Last edited:

IronRain

The One and Only (AFAIK)
Administrator
Moderator
News Reporter
Donator
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
3,484
Reaction score
403
Points
123
Location
Utrecht
Website
www.spaceflightnewsapi.net
Although the landing was officially unsuccessful, I think it's really cool if they can salvage the stage.
 

MaverickSawyer

Acolyte of the Probe
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
3,919
Reaction score
5
Points
61
Location
Wichita
Forget that... did you see how hard the flight control software fought to save the vehicle? Now THAT's something to be proud of...
 

Donamy

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Beta Tester
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
6,904
Reaction score
196
Points
138
Location
Cape
I believe that was ice.
 

Donamy

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Beta Tester
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
6,904
Reaction score
196
Points
138
Location
Cape
Softer than a chute. :hmm:
 

MaverickSawyer

Acolyte of the Probe
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
3,919
Reaction score
5
Points
61
Location
Wichita
Yeah, but was the stage designed for an impromptu bath in saltwater just after engine shutdown?

I suspect that particular booster is going to wind up as scrap... or, with a little luck as a ground trainer for maintainers.
 

Kyle

Armchair Astronaut
Addon Developer
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
3,912
Reaction score
339
Points
123
Website
orbithangar.com
I think Musk spoke off-the-cuff. No way a booster that has spent >24 hours in ocean water will be reused. Sounds nice to say on Twitter, though.
 
Last edited:

MaverickSawyer

Acolyte of the Probe
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
3,919
Reaction score
5
Points
61
Location
Wichita
Sure, the salt will be a problem and I guess that's the reason they land on land.

I wonder if the water landing was intentional as a failsafe or just luck.

Failsafe. The booster has to actively steer towards land so that, should a failure like this happen, the stage won't be a threat to people or property ashore.
 

BrianJ

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
1,676
Reaction score
900
Points
128
Location
Code 347
Just had the glorious sight of ISS blazing across the early evening sky, straight overhead, followed about a minute later by the much less bright Dragon. About 60deg visual separation, so roughly 400km between ISS and Dragon.:)
 

Thunder Chicken

Fine Threads since 2008
Donator
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
4,327
Reaction score
3,248
Points
138
Location
Massachusetts
Some good photos of the first stage getting towed into Port Canaveral:


https://imgur.com/a/gcP3l5C

0j2JrAj.jpg


bicERUl.jpg


hndCaSS.jpg


0grSv2e.jpg


Interstage looks pretty trashed, but otherwise good shape. I am sure the engines are trashed and the engine bells are thermally stressed as all get out, never mind all of the surface corrosion. Still, pretty awesome to get it back and be able to pull it apart and diagnose what happened with the actual hardware.
 

IronRain

The One and Only (AFAIK)
Administrator
Moderator
News Reporter
Donator
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
3,484
Reaction score
403
Points
123
Location
Utrecht
Website
www.spaceflightnewsapi.net
Dragon arrival day!

Dragon was at the 10 meters holding point, but there is a ground issue. The crew was instructed to command Dragon to retreat back to the 30 meters point.

Next try is in about 45 minutes.
 

Modox

New member
Joined
Dec 9, 2018
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Great video - Falcon 9 booster landing in ocean with music from the "Interstellar".
The descent looks even more suspenseful and exciting this way :)

 
Top