The speculation around this was largely done before it was realised just how far down the COG is - being below the upper leg attach points.
Quote from: Eagandale4114 on 12/22/2014 01:00 amWell we have two attempts this January for a landing. CRS-5 and DSCOVR will both try to land.No legs on DSCOVR per Jim.
Well we have two attempts this January for a landing. CRS-5 and DSCOVR will both try to land.
Quote from: douglas100 on 12/22/2014 07:26 amQuote from: Eagandale4114 on 12/22/2014 01:00 amWell we have two attempts this January for a landing. CRS-5 and DSCOVR will both try to land.No legs on DSCOVR per Jim.The FCC application seems to have the barge on it. . . https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=63562
The FCC application seems to have the barge on it. . . https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=63562
Quote from: Dudely on 12/22/2014 11:53 amThe FCC application seems to have the barge on it. . . https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=63562Perhaps the barge has camera and communications capabilities that would be useful even if the stage is going to wind up in the water. After all, you can get an unmanned vessel and its cameras closer to the target splashdown site than a manned vessel.
In the absence of direct information from SpaceX, I vote Jim.
Seeing documentation that there are legs. Some plans may have changed.
Quote from: douglas100 on 12/22/2014 12:55 pmIn the absence of direct information from SpaceX, I vote Jim.Except that we do have direct information from SpaceX, viz their FCC license app which clearly states "Launch vehicle sub-orbital first stage to be recovered downrange of Cape Canaveral."Also, IIRC, Jim said earlier that F9 has plenty of performance margin for this mission, though my memory may be faulty...
In addition to earlier discussion about containers on the barge. Seeing this picture I had an idea:There are four big containers in the front-line. IMHO these are simple containers mainly as some protection for the containers behind them (fuel, communication, control, etc.) + storing basic accessories within it. They have no special role on the barge.
What Jim has seen is the quote from the FCC application, I believe...
Quote from: Kabloona on 12/22/2014 02:09 pmWhat Jim has seen is the quote from the FCC application, I believe...No, there has been other documentation I have seen
^ So we don't reinvent the wheel, there's about 2 pages of discussion of the barge and support ship radio transmitters over here:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35244.msg1284338#msg1284338Now that we've seen photos, I'd guess the 61W support ship transmitter is the big dish seen on Go Quest's deck.We also see what are probably two VSAT domes on the barge. From what I've read online, VSATs do require an FCC license. But they operate in C/Ku/Ka bands, all of which are higher freqs than the 2090 MHz listed in the FCC application, so that's a bit of a puzzle.
Here are a few frames while leaving port.
VSATs don't require FCC licenses. Since they're point to point and can't interfere with the wrong satellite on the same frequency unless they're seriously defective there's no reason for it. Where you're allowed to operate a particular remote is determined by the satellite operator. 2090 Mhz sounds more like a radar frequency. It could be used for ranging or transponders. Depending on where they are, it can also be spread spectrum, which is a lot harder to listen in on.
2090 Mhz sounds more like a radar frequency. It could be used for ranging or transponders. Depending on where they are, it can also be spread spectrum, which is a lot harder to listen in on.