I wonder if anything is done to deconflict the two boosters on their return to LZ. I hope there is something more than prayer involved.
That's... a scary thought.
Oh, and you may need to update your sig.
Done. But it's getting hard to keep track.
...Although SpaceX got approval, I think this launch might violate planetary protection.
(emphasis mine)Planetary protection is a guiding principle in the design of an interplanetary mission, aiming to prevent biological contamination of both the target celestial body and the Earth in the case of sample-return mission.
The center core was only able to relight one of the three engines necessary to land, and so it hit the water at 300 miles per hour about 300 feet from the drone ship. As a result, two engines on the drone ship were taken out when it crashed, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a press call after the rocket launch. “[It] was enough to take out two thrusters and shower the deck with shrapnel,” he said.
I actually pondered the possibility it was an elaborately concealed space burial and there's some wealthy patron in there who "donated" their estate to spacex :hmm:
Hey, 2 outta 3 ain't bad, if you ask me. Certainly better than 0 outta 3. :lol: