News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on SpaceX Plans to Land Next Falcon 9 on Solid Ground. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX Plans to Land Next Falcon 9 on Solid Ground by noir_lord on Thursday April 16, 2015 @01:41PM (#9389497)
Imagine the material that a coke can is made off.

Now imagine a cylinder made of that material 3-4 times wider than a barrel and 20-30ft high.

That's why you can't land them sideways they'd just crush themselves.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX Plans to Land Next Falcon 9 on Solid Ground by saganus on Friday April 17, 2015 @01:17PM (#9395744)
I guess you are right. It wouldn't make sense to make a rocket that can withstand vertical AND horizontal forces. That would be like launching a brick I guess.

Thanks for the pointer.

[ Parent | on HN ]