Re:SpaceX Has Pinpointed the Problem That Caused the Falcon9...
by StavrosK on Friday January 16, 2015 @06:26AM
(#8898224)
How is the rocket going to achieve a controlled landing with no thrust? It seems to me that it would crash into the pad anyway. Or was it that they did have thrust, they were just unable to steer because of the lost pressure?
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Re:SpaceX Has Pinpointed the Problem That Caused the Falcon9...
by fit2rule on Friday January 16, 2015 @06:44AM
(#8898274)
Yes I think you've got it right - they had thrust from the rocket motors, but they ran out of hydraulic fluid required to use the fans to induce more drag, so the rocket came down hard.
Re:SpaceX Has Pinpointed the Problem That Caused the Falcon9...
by srdev on Friday January 16, 2015 @03:12PM
(#8901359)
It makes more sense if you watch the video: https://vine.co/v/OjqeYWWpVWK
Basically, because they lost steering it came in too steep, and ended up falling onto the deck on its side because the engines couldn't compensate for that position.
Re:SpaceX Has Pinpointed the Problem That Caused the Falcon9...
by toomuchtodo on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:05PM
(#8900443)
Steering was the problem, not a loss of thrust.
If the rocket's trajectory is correct, all that is required is a final hard burn to negate all downward velocity a short distance above the barge deck.