In the airborne video I see the right leg deploy after the others - I assumed that all legs deploy at the same time. Is it sequential deployment, or just a sticky leg?
With my limited knowledge I don't think RP-1 would do that, so that leaves LOX. The only other fluid on board. Helium is pressed in gas form in the COPVs, wouldn't crystallize to my knowledge. So it has to be LOX venting, instantly puffing into ice. Clinging to the piping until a gimbal or vibration knocks it off. Probably means nothing. It's also got to be some insanely small amount, like measured in ml's. I think that's a safe bet what do you think?
Quote from: Seattleite on 04/09/2016 02:51 amIn the airborne video I see the right leg deploy after the others - I assumed that all legs deploy at the same time. Is it sequential deployment, or just a sticky leg?I keep seeing the same thing (right leg late), and given how close to touch down everything deploys, it's really scary to watch.
I would think they would want all the legs to come out at the same time, for aerodynamic reasons. But, that said, I think on every flight thus far where we've seen the legs deploy, one has come down a touch later than the others.As long as the staggered deployment doesn't spin the stage out of control (which it obviously didn't), and as long as they are all down and locked at touchdown, I guess it doesn't really matter.Oh, and BTW, how great was it that SpaceX decided to share their drone view of the landing (in HD, no less) with us this time? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was a NASA mission being launched, and as such had its feed going out over the satellite system via NASA TV. Sort of a "now, let's all look nice for the camera" kind of moments...
Maybe now they will share the video from the SES-9 mission. I always love explosions.
Quote from: mlow on 04/09/2016 03:52 amWith my limited knowledge I don't think RP-1 would do that, so that leaves LOX. The only other fluid on board. Helium is pressed in gas form in the COPVs, wouldn't crystallize to my knowledge. So it has to be LOX venting, instantly puffing into ice. Clinging to the piping until a gimbal or vibration knocks it off. Probably means nothing. It's also got to be some insanely small amount, like measured in ml's. I think that's a safe bet what do you think?I'll say none of the above and go outside the box, I mean outside stage 2. It's ultimately melting formerly frozen nitrogen gas from the RCS thrusters at the top of stage 1, when stage 1 was moving max plaid to get out of the way of the stage 2 plume at separation. Edit: Or maybe hydraulic fluid from the pushers for stage separation.
Is this the second stage?