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Re:Can SpaceX land a rocket with 1/2 cm accuracy? by scottshambaugh on Monday October 21, 2024 @01:17PM (#41906204)
> SpaceX determined they didn't need super tight tolerances and called it a day

Yup! This is my conclusion in the article - the landing box for the Super Heavy booster is 5x13x18 meters on each side, with 5-15 degrees of angular tolerance in each of the vehicle axes. So the margins are big enough that you don't need millimeter level precision for the rocket position.

Re:Can SpaceX land a rocket with 1/2 cm accuracy? by asdfman123 on Monday October 21, 2024 @01:21PM (#41906246)
> Could you use other real-time distance measurements like laser rangefinding or visual processing? I don’t think so

This is the part I question though. Seems like an org as well motivated as SpaceX could easily solve that if it was necessary.

Re:Can SpaceX land a rocket with 1/2 cm accuracy? by scottshambaugh on Monday October 21, 2024 @01:38PM (#41906403)
My take is that it would probably be possible with enough effort, but there isn't an easy solution. And if you don't need it then the best part is no part. :)