Author Topic: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 1  (Read 291191 times)

Offline saliva_sweet

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Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Base is 300 ft by 100 ft, with wings that extend width to 170 ft. Will allow refuel & rocket flyback in future.

« Last Edit: 12/14/2014 04:16 pm by Chris Bergin »

Offline rpapo

Christmas has come early...
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline Pelorat

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It's.... beautiful!

Offline Chris Bergin

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Base is 300 ft by 100 ft, with wings that extend width to 170 ft. Will allow refuel & rocket flyback in future.



I wonder if there's extra points for landing in the yellow circle!
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Offline rpapo

Apart from the ship needing tanks for kerosene and LOX, they will need a crane to they can mount a nose-cap on the rocket.  Otherwise I can't see it relaunching high and fast enough to return home.
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline docmordrid

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This-is-just-wild
« Last Edit: 11/22/2014 08:34 pm by docmordrid »
DM

Offline saliva_sweet

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This means the barge is not a one-off test or demo, but part of long term strategy. I wonder where this leaves RTLS.

Offline MTom

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I don't think they leave RTLS. This is IMHO an additional opportunity for landing if needed (eg. heavier payload, FH center core...)
« Last Edit: 11/22/2014 08:49 pm by MTom »

Offline somepitch

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Long term maybe for FH center cores?

Offline docmordrid

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I imagine the RTLS pads could do double duty. RTLS pads for missions with high prop margins, and the floating spaceport + hop-back for low margin missions.
DM

Offline rpapo

This means the barge is not a one-off test or demo, but part of long term strategy. I wonder where this leaves RTLS.
It's still RTLS.  But in two stages when conditions aren't good enough for direct RTLS.
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline oiorionsbelt

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #11 on: 11/22/2014 08:42 pm »
This means the barge is not a one-off test or demo, but part of long term strategy. I wonder where this leaves RTLS.
Sounds like RTLS will be in the form of fly back from the barge :)

Offline oiorionsbelt

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #12 on: 11/22/2014 08:43 pm »
If the Booster it taking off from that barge then thats a lot more rocket exhaust the barge has to deal with. Probably not a plain steel deck then.

Offline gosnold

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #13 on: 11/22/2014 08:47 pm »
SpaceX could have a dozen of falcon cores and ship them from barge to launch pad and then launch them from pad to barge, enabling a high launch tempo that will satify the demand. Single-hour turnaround is not need until the satellite builders cut their cost down 10x too.

Offline Jeff Lerner

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #14 on: 11/22/2014 09:20 pm »
Whoa.....Space "X" marks the spot.....😄

Offline cambrianera

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #15 on: 11/22/2014 09:21 pm »
If the Booster it taking off from that barge then thats a lot more rocket exhaust the barge has to deal with. Probably not a plain steel deck then.
A simple (but powerful) flooding system can keep a steel deck cool enough.
Oh to be young again. . .

Offline Ionmars

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #16 on: 11/22/2014 09:21 pm »
I'm madly motivated.

Offline neoforce

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #17 on: 11/22/2014 09:22 pm »
Even more in

Offline king1999

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #18 on: 11/22/2014 09:36 pm »
"Barge" is not the proper word to describe an "Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship" which uses thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs to hold position within 3m even in a storm.  ;D

Offline Noah

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Re: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread
« Reply #19 on: 11/22/2014 09:40 pm »
Quedtion: Where will F9 flights 14 & 15 attempt "solid surface" landings?

Answer: FAA application and on this barge...

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