Confirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.
Not sure the AFTS battery and electronics would be good after several days in the salt water.
A Coast Guard cutter firing deck guns would have been a better and cheaper option.
I would bet a strafing run with the 20mm cannon most Air Force tactical combat aircraft are equipped with would do the job easily and relatively inexpensively, and would still qualify as an “air strike.”
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?
Quote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 02/08/2018 05:16 pmQuote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.So how in the world does a private company request that the USAF blow something up?How would such a mission be requested and authorized?Perhaps it's included in the range safety package?
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Does the Range Officer pressing the FTS terminate button count as the "Air Force carrying out a strike"?Assuming the AFTS has a manual terminate option, and that it works over the horizon via relay or something.
Quote from: mn on 02/08/2018 05:43 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 02/08/2018 05:16 pmQuote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.So how in the world does a private company request that the USAF blow something up?How would such a mission be requested and authorized?Perhaps it's included in the range safety package?... because a company that does major rocket launches is not just "A" private company...
Quote from: Herb Schaltegger on 02/08/2018 04:47 pmI would bet a strafing run with the 20mm cannon most Air Force tactical combat aircraft are equipped with would do the job easily and relatively inexpensively, and would still qualify as an “air strike.”Would have to get pretty low for a strafing run. Seems a risk of frag damage. A JDAM, Hellfire or some other standoff guided missile would be a safer, albeit more expensive option.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 02/08/2018 05:16 pmQuote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.So how in the world does a private company request that the USAF blow something up?How would such a mission be requested and authorized?
Quote from: meekGee on 02/08/2018 05:54 pmQuote from: mn on 02/08/2018 05:43 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 02/08/2018 05:16 pmQuote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.So how in the world does a private company request that the USAF blow something up?How would such a mission be requested and authorized?Perhaps it's included in the range safety package?... because a company that does major rocket launches is not just "A" private company...Exactly. Not sure why people are surprised about using the military for this. I mean, the Falcon 9 is ITAR protected, certified for military launches, launches out of an Air Force base, is loaded with explosive munitions, and is an amazing training target. And for those saying there are cheaper options - that's not even a a blip on the radar of military expenditures...
Quote from: Johnnyhinbos on 02/08/2018 05:58 pmExactly. Not sure why people are surprised about using the military for this. I mean, the Falcon 9 is ITAR protected, certified for military launches, launches out of an Air Force base, is loaded with explosive munitions, and is an amazing training target. And for those saying there are cheaper options - that's not even a a blip on the radar of military expenditures...Heh you know the outfit that got to do the job is considering it a prize, not a burden...
Exactly. Not sure why people are surprised about using the military for this. I mean, the Falcon 9 is ITAR protected, certified for military launches, launches out of an Air Force base, is loaded with explosive munitions, and is an amazing training target. And for those saying there are cheaper options - that's not even a a blip on the radar of military expenditures...
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 02/08/2018 05:16 pmQuote from: curtquarquesso on 02/08/2018 02:43 pmQuote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/08/2018 02:25 pmConfirmed. It was destroyed. There was no safe way to tow it back without risk to land, sea, and people.Was it destroyed by SpaceX, or the Air Force?SpaceX issued a request and USAF executed that request. Period end of discussion.Executed as in with a F/A-18 and a anti-shipping missile . Well at least the US Military can now claim a successful intercept of missile threatening the US mainland.
