Quote from: Kabloona on 04/25/2016 02:22 pmQuote from: OxCartMark on 04/23/2016 12:55 pmQuote from: OxCartMark on 04/21/2016 04:10 pmMeanwhile, how are things in the port of LA / Long Beach?Members of the ASDS nation should be scanning the shores around Amelia and Morgan City La. for the possible construction of additional ASDS(s) now that there is proof that the concept works. Where are the Marmacs?My source at McDonough Marine says all their big barges are rented out and he hasn't heard or seen anything locally to suggest SpaceX is expanding their ASDS fleet. If they did, it would have to be with a different company, elsewhere.PS...the original ASDS, Marmac 300, is done with wind farm construction duty and is being repaired/refit for its next job.Interesting... What is the lead time for new construction of this class of barge? And if new construction were commissioned, would it be this class or would SpaceX start applying learnings (integrated shielding instead of tacked on.. special thruster housings, etc... there are dozens of things one COULD do...)? It's possible it's too early to start customizing much, so by going for another Marmac 300 class, the barge could be returned to the lessor more easily...
Quote from: OxCartMark on 04/23/2016 12:55 pmQuote from: OxCartMark on 04/21/2016 04:10 pmMeanwhile, how are things in the port of LA / Long Beach?Members of the ASDS nation should be scanning the shores around Amelia and Morgan City La. for the possible construction of additional ASDS(s) now that there is proof that the concept works. Where are the Marmacs?My source at McDonough Marine says all their big barges are rented out and he hasn't heard or seen anything locally to suggest SpaceX is expanding their ASDS fleet. If they did, it would have to be with a different company, elsewhere.PS...the original ASDS, Marmac 300, is done with wind farm construction duty and is being repaired/refit for its next job.
Quote from: OxCartMark on 04/21/2016 04:10 pmMeanwhile, how are things in the port of LA / Long Beach?Members of the ASDS nation should be scanning the shores around Amelia and Morgan City La. for the possible construction of additional ASDS(s) now that there is proof that the concept works. Where are the Marmacs?
Meanwhile, how are things in the port of LA / Long Beach?
Thank you! That rohn tower does indeed have a combined anemometer/direction indicator, and it's ultrasonic. .......I'd also be willing to bet that somewhere aboard is an accelerometer/tiltmeter, to give them data on the exact attitude and motion of the ASDS at the moment of touchdown (for later analysis, not realtime use). Might also be useful to know before launch if conditions are marginal (assuming they'd delay a launch for a landing issue).
My source at McDonough Marine says all their big barges are rented out and he hasn't heard or seen anything locally to suggest SpaceX is expanding their ASDS fleet. If they did, it would have to be with a different company, elsewhere.PS...the original ASDS, Marmac 300, is done with wind farm construction duty and is being repaired/refit for its next job.
Personally, I can't see them increasing the SpaceX Navy for some time yet - the cost of barge upgrades, maintenance, berthing, man-power and tug support just does not seem to be warranted at this point.
?...and SpaceX has a track record of not completing new things before they are needed - why make a capital expenditure before it's needed?
Yes, and they're probably feeling a bit burned by JRtI sitting out there out West doing nothing for what...almost a year now?
Quote from: Kabloona on 04/26/2016 03:19 amYes, and they're probably feeling a bit burned by JRtI sitting out there out West doing nothing for what...almost a year now?I recall JRtI trying to catch the Jason-3 booster just 3 months ago.
Quote from: cscott on 04/25/2016 01:14 pmWhoo-hoo, another exciting recovery then!That doesn't follow. It's possible that they're going to do a ballistic reentry but not use the super max gonzo 3 engine landing option...
Whoo-hoo, another exciting recovery then!
Quote from: miscme on 04/26/2016 03:33 amQuote from: Kabloona on 04/26/2016 03:19 amYes, and they're probably feeling a bit burned by JRtI sitting out there out West doing nothing for what...almost a year now?I recall JRtI trying to catch the Jason-3 booster just 3 months ago.OK, one attempt in a year. "Almost" nothing. Point remains, the asset has been, shall we say, extremely underutilized.
what do we think is the fastest launch cadence we could see for launches which cannot use an RTLS trajectory for stage recovery?
Then, let's not forget that they can always decide to go expandable once in a while. I know it's tempting to believe that from now on, they will catch every single first stage they launch, and in the long run, that may be the aim, but until they can "safely" reuse a first stage, and until they seriously ramp up the storage capability, trying to catch every first stage they launch may cause them some serious logistics headaches, that may be solved by going expandable sometimes.
Oh what exciting times we live in... "guys... splash this next one, we have too many first stages in the barn right now..."