Quote from: cscott on 04/07/2016 03:11 pmSo---is Go Searcher still in port?Yup. Brunching at Fishlips.
So---is Go Searcher still in port?
Hmm, "refine", now there's a word. Trying to eliminate those last pesky traces of exploding on impact, falling over and exploding, punching big holes in the deck, and other miscellaneous minor refinements.
Out to sea
Such a tiny vessel, such a big ocean! I'm always amazed that the booster finds it.
Quote from: llanitedave on 04/08/2016 04:56 amSuch a tiny vessel, such a big ocean! I'm always amazed that the booster finds it.It doesn't. The droneship finds the booster.
* this can be varied of course, there is some cross range capability due to grid fins etc. But the point IS predefined.
All of the 4 barge landing attempts would have failed on land, too.1) Came in hot, no directional control (grid fins ran out of hydraulic fluid)2) Came in hot, little directional control (sticky engine/TVC valve)3) Came in perfectly, toppled over (leg didn't latch)4) Came in incandescent, poked hole in barge (low thrust on one engine)So, the barge appears to be concentrating on eliminating failure modes.......
If Go Searcher had been launched would it have had to find the fleet out at sea or would the fleet find it or would they have met at a designated spot?
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 04/08/2016 01:38 amOut to seaLooks like a nice day for a landing.
Ahem. On another subject, GO Searcher is still in port. So it's fairly certain she will not be joining the armada at sea. We think because there's no payload fairing to track/chase on this flight.
Just chatted with Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel and SpaceX BD Josh Brost about launch costs. ASDS can tilt up to six degrees and still support a landing. Million pounds of ballast water also means that the rate of change is dwarfed by the speed of the landing.
Screen cap from the stern cam of droneship "Of Course I Still Love You"