SpaceX has announced that F9 flights 14 & 15 will attempt "solid surface" landings. Where will that "solid surface" be? (These will be Cape launches).
Orbcomm OG2 and TurkmenSat 1 according to Wikipedia.Orbcomm OG2 and CRS-5 according to SpaceX's manifest.
Wikipedia more likely correct, I would think, since TurkmenSat probably a low-energy mission that should leave plenty of margin for boostback.
FYI, they are not landing nor do they launch from KSC. The launch and landing sites are on the Cape. KSC=/ Cape
Quote from: Jim on 07/22/2014 09:35 pmFYI, they are not landing nor do they launch from KSC. The launch and landing sites are on the Cape. KSC=/ CapeDuly noted. Now, since we have your attention, where will they try to land?
...Speculation on this forum has been that the following two areas are contenders for early landing attempts. (see image)
Quote from: Kabloona on 07/22/2014 09:39 pmQuote from: Jim on 07/22/2014 09:35 pmFYI, they are not landing nor do they launch from KSC. The launch and landing sites are on the Cape. KSC=/ CapeDuly noted. Now, since we have your attention, where will they try to land?LC-13 was mentioned
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment.
I have simply observed that SpaceX likes to move much faster with their testing than others generally do.They don't skip steps, but they move fast.Perhaps, if they get a core to return to the Cape, they will leave it there and relaunch it.I doubt they could do it with a paying payload, but I could see Elon loading a dummy paylod and launching it just to show he could.