SpaceX Falcon 9 : BulgariaSat-1 : June 23, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[abaddon]

There was a great shot of the second stage motoring away from the perspective of the 1st stage looking "up", and since there was no boostback burn it didn't rotate away for the duration of the shot.  Not sure if we've seen something like that before?  But in any case, it was very cool to see.

[CharlieWildman]

Looks to me like its leaning about 3 degrees.  Time will tell of course.

[RDMM2081]

There was a great shot of the second stage motoring away from the perspective of the 1st stage looking "up", and since there was no boostback burn it didn't rotate away for the duration of the shot.  Not sure if we've seen something like that before?  But in any case, it was very cool to see.

I've been meaning to ask, and this seems like a good opportunity with your excellent gif of the action (thank you!) but what exactly (or approximately) is that structure seemingly made out of the tubular metal(?).  I cant even wrap my head around which stage it is on, I kind of think it is on stage 1, and lives in the interstage, but can anyone help clarify or help me get my bearings?  Thanks!

[StuffOfInterest]

There was a great shot of the second stage motoring away from the perspective of the 1st stage looking "up", and since there was no boostback burn it didn't rotate away for the duration of the shot.  Not sure if we've seen something like that before?  But in any case, it was very cool to see.

For some strange reason, that brings back a memory of the 3rd Falcon 1 launch that managed to rear-end itself from residual thrust.  Would be funny to put the two clips side by side to show what should and should not happen.  Of course, the perspective would be reversed as the camera was on the 2nd stage of the Falcon 1.

[dorkmo]

It did only appear like it was hovering above water before the transmission cut briefly, but keep in mind that the stage is coming in at an angle (see other drone ships landings shot from a distance), and a 3 engine landing burn will reach a bit further and impinge the ocean more. 

looks like there is a soot trail clear from one side of the asds to the other. will be interesting to see the non-live video release

I noticed that the soot trail runs from the edge of the ship inwards. I didn't think it ran from both sides but just from the right.

this is what i see

Dark marks on the right I think are shadow of the upper part of the booster and grid fins. It did leave a trail across the deck though.

https://gfycat.com/ThinSphericalAbalone

i think there is a bit of overlap of soot and shadow. i marked green what i think is shadow alone.

[abaddon]

I've been meaning to ask, and this seems like a good opportunity with your excellent gif of the action (thank you!) but what exactly (or approximately) is that structure seemingly made out of the tubular metal(?).  I cant even wrap my head around which stage it is on, I kind of think it is on stage 1, and lives in the interstage, but can anyone help clarify or help me get my bearings?  Thanks!

You're welcome! .

It's the central pusher they added a while back, to augment the three pushers around the top of the interstage that effect stage separation.  It is in fact in the interstage, looking "up" at the second stage flying away.

[ugordan]

There was a great shot of the second stage motoring away from the perspective of the 1st stage looking "up", and since there was no boostback burn it didn't rotate away for the duration of the shot.  Not sure if we've seen something like that before?

There were a couple of earlier instances, but I think this is the first time that shows it in 30 fps. You can even see the nozzle stiffener rings break off in this one. CRS-11 was also 30fps, but had that fast flip around.

[StuffOfInterest]

I've been meaning to ask, and this seems like a good opportunity with your excellent gif of the action (thank you!) but what exactly (or approximately) is that structure seemingly made out of the tubular metal(?).  I cant even wrap my head around which stage it is on, I kind of think it is on stage 1, and lives in the interstage, but can anyone help clarify or help me get my bearings?  Thanks!

Center pusher added to the FT (aka v1.2, aka block 3) rocket.  Rams a plunger right up the engine's throat.

[dorkmo]

i was just thinking, with 3 engines, they could have all been gimbaled in different directions/thurst levels. would there be any advantage to that? landing might have been more tame that it looks?

[Rocket Science]

It did only appear like it was hovering above water before the transmission cut briefly, but keep in mind that the stage is coming in at an angle (see other drone ships landings shot from a distance), and a 3 engine landing burn will reach a bit further and impinge the ocean more. 

looks like there is a soot trail clear from one side of the asds to the other. will be interesting to see the non-live video release

I noticed that the soot trail runs from the edge of the ship inwards. I didn't think it ran from both sides but just from the right.

this is what i see

Dark marks on the right I think are shadow of the upper part of the booster and grid fins. It did leave a trail across the deck though.

https://gfycat.com/ThinSphericalAbalone

Thanks for the gif Helo, it shows what I thought was the heave of the deck before touchdown...

[AncientU]

That's definitely engine exhaust spray, not a wave breaking. 
Ocean too flat and wash seen around edge of spray.

[AncientU]

I was too young to see the flight of our second Bulgarian cosmonaut and I was not yet born when our first satellite and our first cosmonaut launched.

Today, however, I feel privileged to see the launch of our second satellite in space. Although Bulgaria is a space country - bulgarian instrument is currently flying aboard ExoMars-2016 around Mars, and we've launched a similar instrument aboard Chandrayaan-1 to the moon, the fact that we have a private satellite in space is significant.

Thank you, SpaceX, for making us, Bulgarians, feel proud.

This^

[bob the martian]

Looks to me like its leaning about 3 degrees.  Time will tell of course.

Most of that is barrel distortion from the lens (note the extreme curvature of the horizon and the curve of the barge edges). 

Given the burn mark on the other side of the target, though, it looks like it bounced a bit after landing, so maybe one of the legs is a little compressed. 

[Kosmos2001]

i was just thinking, with 3 engines, they could have all been gimbaled in different directions/thurst levels. would there be any advantage to that? landing might have been more tame that it looks?

Aren't the 8 surrounding ones too close to each other to gimbal?

[Lars-J]

i was just thinking, with 3 engines, they could have all been gimbaled in different directions/thurst levels. would there be any advantage to that? landing might have been more tame that it looks?

There is no advantage in that, it just reduces their efficiency.

[AnalogMan]

I've been meaning to ask, and this seems like a good opportunity with your excellent gif of the action (thank you!) but what exactly (or approximately) is that structure seemingly made out of the tubular metal(?).  I cant even wrap my head around which stage it is on, I kind of think it is on stage 1, and lives in the interstage, but can anyone help clarify or help me get my bearings?  Thanks!

The tubular structure supports a pusher rod that helps the stages separate cleanly.  It is mounted on the top dome of the first stage, and is basically three tubes in tripod arrangement supporting a vertical pusher mechanism.

The graphic below shows the pusher both in its stowed and extended positions in relation to the second stage engine.

[edkyle99]

Was this the first successful 3-engine landing?

 - Ed Kyle

[ZachS09]

Was this the first successful 3-engine landing?

 - Ed Kyle

JCSat 14 used a 3-1 landing burn while Thaicom 8 used a 1-3-1 landing burn, so both can technically count as the first successful 3-engine landings.

[ugordan]

Was this the first successful 3-engine landing?

 - Ed Kyle

JCSat 14 used a 3-1 landing burn while Thaicom 8 used a 1-3-1 landing burn, so both can technically count as the first successful 3-engine landings.

It's highly likely any 3 engine profile is always 1-3-1, like the boostback and reentry burns use.

[wannamoonbase]

Was this the first successful 3-engine landing?

 - Ed Kyle

JCSat 14 used a 3-1 landing burn while Thaicom 8 used a 1-3-1 landing burn, so both can technically count as the first successful 3-engine landings.

3 all the way to the deck?  That's some fine timing to be sure.

If this booster fly's again that will be the true measure of success.