Re:SpaceX SES-9 Mission Live Webcast
by m_mueller on Friday March 04, 2016 @09:28PM
(#11228146)
It's hard to tell really. If the barge was bigger it basically means more leanient constraints for the final approach, which could result in a softer landing. Remember that Falcons can't hover and thus have to achieve perfect timing for the final burn. If you constrain time down to almost zero and space down to a few meters and the initial velocity is terminal velocity + pretty fast horicontal movement, it's almost a wonder that they're already doing what they're doing.
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The causes of the earlier failures were insufficient hydraulic fluid, a sticky valve, and a landing leg that didn't lock. I don't see any of those being helped by a bigger target.