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+--- Thread: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... (/showthread.php?tid=166776)
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - ztirffritz - 05-01-2014
SpaceX has started posting to a reddit list.
http://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/24bsn2/first_stage_landing_video/
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - GGD - 05-01-2014
I'm a bit confused about how they got the video, that web page says:
Below is a look at the original video data from the first stage landing, recovered from the Falcon 9 onboard camera and shot right before splashdown:
But I though it sank and was not recovered, so where did the video come from? Was it transmitted to something else? What I really trying to understand is how the video got corrupted. Did the storage media get corrupted, did the video signal get corrupted before it could be stored, etc.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - DeusxMac - 05-01-2014
GGD wrote:
I'm a bit confused about how they got the video, that web page says:
Below is a look at the original video data from the first stage landing, recovered from the Falcon 9 onboard camera and shot right before splashdown:
But I though it sank and was not recovered, so where did the video come from? Was it transmitted to something else? What I really trying to understand is how the video got corrupted. Did the storage media get corrupted, did the video signal get corrupted before it could be stored, etc.
The video was transmitted live and recorded remotely, not physically "recovered." The received data was poor (corrupted.)
Given that this was a camera mounted on a rocket's first stage, and had literally been through extreme conditions, it's not surprising that it might have developed problems.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - rjmacs - 05-01-2014
How long til they start landing back on the/a launchpad?
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - ztirffritz - 05-01-2014
Their goal is to land in shallower water for the next launch so that the stage can still be recovered if it sinks again. They plan to try for land by next year or later this year even.
The seas were very rough when this landed making the operation all the more impressive. They were transmitting the signal through a storm but the boat had to be more remote than intended because of the conditions, hence the poor signal quality. The footage is what they were able to capture. Though SpaceX hasn't confirmed it, it is believed that they are planning to have a tracking plane in the air for the next attempt so that the seas won't impact the transmission. If I were them I'd have it jetison the camera module with a GPS beacon on contact with the water.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - Paul F. - 05-01-2014
A sticking point for a "land" landing is going to be NASA range-safety rules, not to mention the FAA.
Not insurmountable, in fact they've planned for it all...
But it's going to slow things down.
After a few "hover and sploosh" landings, hopefully recovering the stage for inspection, the next step is land landing and inspection.. Followed by a re-used stage being flown.
That last step is going to be a truly historic day.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - ztirffritz - 05-01-2014
I read that the fuel for each launch 'only' costs SpaceX about $200,00-$400,000. The booster stage represents the lion's share of the overall launch price tag, which I believe was in the $70,000,000 range. If they can reuse the booster stage, that would make SpaceX's launches crazy cheap compared to everyone else. They're contracted with NASA for a certain number of launches at the higher price. The faster that they can reuse the boosters the more money that they can make through the remainder of the contract. The other private launch companies must be terrified. It's pretty hard to ignore an 80% price differential. Even the military can't hand out no-bid contracts to ULA with that much of a cost difference.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - DeusxMac - 05-01-2014
ztirffritz wrote:
Even the military can't hand out no-bid contracts to ULA with that much of a cost difference.
Elon Musk's SpaceX will sue U.S. over rocket contract
http://money.cnn.com/2014/04/25/technology/spacex-musk/
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - ztirffritz - 05-01-2014
As I understand it, that contract was issued before SpaceX even had a viable vehicle, so they're not likely to win that, but it will force the military to consider SpaceX for future operations and will put their name in front of lots of eyes that would otherwise not consider them. I think it was a calculated publicity move to make sure that the old guard is aware that Boeing/Lockheed aren't the only game in town.
Re: Space X Stage 1 Ocean Landing Video is posted... - ztirffritz - 05-01-2014
OK, this move might give SpaceX's complaint some teeth:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/05/spacex-says-rocket-purchases-violate-russian-sanctions-gets-injunction/
Late Wednesday evening, the United States Court of Federal Claims granted SpaceX’s request for an injunction to prevent US-based companies from buying RD-180 rocket engines for use in government space launches. The injunction specifically applies against the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed-Martin that provides unmanned rocket launch services to NASA and other US government agencies