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View Full Version : Yesterday's SpaceX Arabsat-6A Mission


ChickNorris
04-12-2019, 18:51
In case you missed it, here's the link

https://youtu.be/TXMGu2d8c8g
Grant H.
04-12-2019, 19:07
These videos never get old...

My mom worked as a programmer on the IBM side of the Lunar Landing missions, so my brothers and I have been intrigued by space since we were young. What SpaceX has accomplished is nothing short of awesome.
Irving
04-12-2019, 19:49
My cousin flew out there to see it. I should ask him how it was.
iego
04-12-2019, 20:50
When those two side boosters, simul-landed... straight out of the Tom Swift books of my childhood. Very cool!

-John
Irving
04-12-2019, 21:02
Launch was delayed a day so cousin missed it. Bummer.
Gman
04-12-2019, 22:47
When those two side boosters, simul-landed... straight out of the Tom Swift books of my childhood. Very cool!

-John

The third successfully landed on their barge. 3 for 3. It's fun to watch. It used to be over once the rocket climbed out of sight, so at least there's something to see when the boosters come back.
Bailey Guns
04-13-2019, 08:15
Just amazing.
theGinsue
04-13-2019, 10:44
Love it!
Irving
04-13-2019, 11:09
I like space as much as the next person, but I really don't think I appreciate this stuff as much as I should. Watch ing those rockets land themselves is Goddamned incredible.
Circuits
04-13-2019, 12:25
They recovered and will re-use the payload fairing, as well. At $6M a pop, that's some serious savings.

I'm half hoping someday not too far in the future, space launch customers will be able to (metaphorically) go to a big lot somewhere and kick the tires on a bunch of "one owner" orbital boosters, while guys in loud polyester suits offer hot dogs and balloons for the kids and ask "what will it take for me to put you into this Block 5 creampuff today?"
ChickNorris
04-13-2019, 12:35
: )
BladesNBarrels
04-13-2019, 15:25
Sure beats the multiple parachutes slowing the descent as the space capsule splashes down in the ocean with a carrier standing by.

https://i.imgur.com/vzmn84s.jpg
DenverGP
04-13-2019, 15:37
Spacex's crew capsule was designed with the ability to use rockets to slow it's decent and land gently on land, but Nasa didn't approve it's use for the ISS missions, so while the capsule is capable, it'll return using apollo style parachutes as well. (in fact the demo mission was 4 parachutes instead of apollo's 3).
Circuits
04-16-2019, 23:50
I saw in my news crawl that SpaceX lost the third booster off the drone ship in heavy seas :(
Irving
04-16-2019, 23:54
That's bummer. I wonder if they lay them down after landing.
DenverGP
04-17-2019, 06:22
That's bummer. I wonder if they lay them down after landing.


Nope.

In the early days, they would send a crew onto the drone ship to actually weld the booster to the deck.

Now they use something they call the Octograbber... It's like a giant roomba robot that comes out of a small hanger on the drone ship, and clamps onto the base of the booster to hold it steady during the ride back to port.

But the Octograbber doesn't fit the Falcon Heavy center core, and seas were too rough to send a crew on board to weld it down.

Some cool info about the Octograbber:
https://www.elonx.net/octagrabber/