SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-16 (Dragon SpX-16) : December 5, 2018 - DISCUSSION

[lonestriker]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

Lifting the booster out of the water really isn't rocket science. Just use a strap under the top portion (below the interstage) and however they normally attach the bottom. This isn't flight hardware now so you can just jury-rig something together that gets it up in one piece.

[CorvusCorax]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

The damage appears. To ve only above the grid fins,which are at the bottom of the interstage. But you'd haveto inspect if there are smaller fractures makibg thus unsafe. A belt around the tank section would work but then they need to make sure they lift even so it wont slide either way. Sounds easy enough, but that thing is big and in the water.

[whitelancer64]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

The damage appears. To ve only above the grid fins,which are at the bottom of the interstage. But you'd haveto inspect if there are smaller fractures makibg thus unsafe. A belt around the tank section would work but then they need to make sure they lift even so it wont slide either way. Sounds easy enough, but that thing is big and in the water.

Two-crane lifts require good coordination, but are not unusual.

[Rocket Science]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

It's below the interstage...

[guckyfan]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

It's below the interstage...

The grid fins are mounted at the interstage.

[david1971]

I rationally understand the physics and economics of the situation...  And I don't want to be yet another SLS-basher on NSF...  But watching this entire recovery process makes me sad for all of those magnificent SSMEs we are going to send to the bottom of the ocean.

[mlindner]

SpaceX will do a live coverage of CRS-16 Dragon rendezvous, arrival and capture at the ISS starting at 1:30am PST or 9:30 UTC on December 8th.

YouTube link here:

Has this ever happened before? I don't remember SpaceX ever doing live streams of berthings, even for the very first berthing. Wonder if something different is planned? It will be awesome if we get livestream from cameras on board the Dragon.

[Rocket Science]

I don't see any reason the could not lift around the grid-fin mount area, it is robust to take the aero loads there from them. Remove them for safe keeping and install lift pins in place...

The interstage is damaged. I would not want to lift the stage that way.

It's below the interstage...

The grid fins are mounted at the interstage.

They go through a circular structural member at the top of the tank for load paths...AFAIK. If you know of something other please let me know...

Edit to add:

[kdhilliard]

SpaceX will do a live coverage of CRS-16 Dragon rendezvous, arrival and capture at the ISS starting at 1:30am PST or 9:30 UTC on December 8th.

Has this ever happened before? I don't remember SpaceX ever doing live streams of berthings, even for the very first berthing. Wonder if something different is planned? It will be awesome if we get livestream from cameras on board the Dragon.

Perhaps they wanted some practice prior to the livestream of DM-1.

[cygnusx112]

Here are some of my pictures from the booster return this morning.

[SDSmith]

Looking at the interstage the pusher looks a little racked. The top right strut looks bent and the bottom strut appears to be broken.

[AndyH]

It sounds like they're starting to take up the slack in the lifting strap at the interstage junction.  They're placing foam to protect the raceway.

https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/21054/web

[MKremer]

Looking at the interstage the pusher looks a little racked. The top right strut looks bent and the bottom strut appears to be broken.

Appears to me that the side that is broken/slightly caved in was the side that struck the water almost on the grid fin when the stage fell over. The force caved in the composite around the mounting support and perhaps weakened the structure above it.

[Wolfram66]

Looking at the interstage the pusher looks a little racked. The top right strut looks bent and the bottom strut appears to be broken.

Adjusted to show more detail w/ Photoshop Express App for iPad

[leetdan]

Caught some pictures from Gator's (fka Milliken's Reef) as the lift was happening...

[Cheapchips]

I've really enjoyed these recovery pictures.  Space hardware with people and everyday things surround them are some of my favourite images.  I think these are probably the best scale views we've had of an F9 with its legs out.

[mainmind]

Does anyone know the operational constraint that required the back-away from capture volume because Comm with the ground was going to go down? The astronauts are driving the SRMS and the Dragon is in closed-loop communications with the station directly. Why couldn't they press for capture and wait to continue berth operations until comm was restored? This seems really wasteful.

[cygnusx112]

Booster out of the water and the crew is starting to show up. Should be interesting seeing the legs removed.

[Jakusb]

Booster out of the water and the crew is starting to show up. Should be interesting seeing the legs removed.

Why not post this in Update thread?

[Jakusb]

Booster out of the water and the crew is starting to show up. Should be interesting seeing the legs removed.

Looks like the one leg collapsed backward and dented an engine bell...
Clearly not possible on impact, so most likely a failed attempt at pulling with a line from it?