Aren't the current droneships only towed due to regulation, rather than a technical limitation?
Quote from: Cheapchips on 11/15/2018 03:30 pmAren't the current droneships only towed due to regulation, rather than a technical limitation?No, they are not capable of reaching their deployment location on their own.
Aren't the drone ships just converted barges? Barges with station holding gear bolted on to hold it against winds and currents. That doesn't include a wheel and rudder for steering or a powertrain for propulsion.
Yes, there is no technical reason they can't self-ferry.. but many reasons they don't. Safety of navigation for other vessels and safety of the environment are two biggies.Taken to the extreme, you might be wondering why modern cargo ships cannot be fully automated? After all, without anyone on board....
Quote from: CameronD on 11/18/2018 10:05 pmYes, there is no technical reason they can't self-ferry.. but many reasons they don't. Safety of navigation for other vessels and safety of the environment are two biggies.Taken to the extreme, you might be wondering why modern cargo ships cannot be fully automated? After all, without anyone on board....Rolls Royce and several other companies are working on remotely-sailed (drone) cargo ships, and the 79.5m autonmous container feeder YARA Birkeland is being built, so....
..., and the 79.5m autonmous container feeder YARA Birkeland is being built, so....
Quote from: docmordrid on 11/18/2018 10:24 pm..., and the 79.5m autonmous container feeder YARA Birkeland is being built, so.... Hasn't it been "being built" for quite a while now?
There is a barge in these pictures.https://twitter.com/LilyRubenstein/status/1078120710525018112(credit to Twitter user @LilyRubenstein )
Think the barge is being used in cahoots with the fairing drop tests out of Port LA. Tug Sir Richard pulls the fairing loaded barge to drop site (Catalina Island-ish), from which a commercial Blackhawk helicopter latches to fairing. Bird climbs to height while SpX ship Mr Steven maneuvers into place.
Would this be the vessel of which Elon hinted as "A Shortfall of Gravitas" (maybe re-purposed for fairing use) or is that a different vessel?
Quote from: Nydoc on 12/27/2018 10:33 pmWould this be the vessel of which Elon hinted as "A Shortfall of Gravitas" (maybe re-purposed for fairing use) or is that a different vessel?No. The ASDS beam is 170ft. Mr Steven is 34ft. That barge is closer to Mr Steven than an ASDS.
The Marmac 300 series has a 100' beam, the additional width in their ASDS role is from the 'wings' welded to the sides. This barge is still too small to be a pre-refit ASDS of the same pattern, unless SpaceX are confidant enough of landing CEP to downsize and also have some reason not to continue to use their already converted barges.
Quote from: edzieba on 12/28/2018 01:41 pmThe Marmac 300 series has a 100' beam, the additional width in their ASDS role is from the 'wings' welded to the sides. This barge is still too small to be a pre-refit ASDS of the same pattern, unless SpaceX are confidant enough of landing CEP to downsize and also have some reason not to continue to use their already converted barges.Thanks! I'm a little surprised I'd never picked up that point before but maybe I got here late.Seen clearly below:
Edit - Wings on deck in Panama Canal
Edit - A Helodriver update
Edit - Another Helodriver update
Edit - And another Helodriver update
Edit - A fourth Helodriver update
Edit - A final Helodriver update