SpaceX First Stage Propulsive landing Discussion

[C3PO]

Wouldnt it be easier to float 90% of the way down on a parachute before doing that? Maybe a parafoil could be used if more control were necessary.

There aren't many places that you can land this thing in the area you'd be descending into. If I understand correctly the plan is to fly back to (roughly) the area of the launch pad. If they were launching out of Baikonur the chute might be a workable option.

 

[garyw]

There aren't many places that you can land this thing in the area you'd be descending into.

Agreed, a boost back to land is quite a distance to cover - it's an RTLS maneuver so will require a fair amount of energy.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

There aren't many places that you can land this thing in the area you'd be descending into. If I understand correctly the plan is to fly back to (roughly) the area of the launch pad. If they were launching out of Baikonur the chute might be a workable option.

True, although launching out of a place like vandenberg wouldn't hurt, the only real reason that they want to land it is to A-not smash the hardware into the dirt, and B-not have the salt water corrode the engine bell in a water landing. So long as they can find the thing, where it lands would seem unimportant.

What an interesting idea there though, launching from Baiknour :hmm:

 

[Urwumpe]

Agreed, a boost back to land is quite a distance to cover - it's an RTLS maneuver so will require a fair amount of energy.

Not that much, after the second stage is gone. Still enough that calling for a return to launch site creates a strong performance reduction.

 

[Hlynkacg]

Not that much, after the second stage is gone. Still enough that calling for a return to launch site creates a strong performance reduction.

I suspect that's where the vast majority of the first stage's "up-rating" has gone.

 

[Urwumpe]

I suspect that's where the vast majority of the first stage's "up-rating" has gone.

I would even expect the first stage to have lost some lot of performance by that maneuver.