Fingers crossed for the first SpaceX Landing Leg Test today
The primary mission (cargo to station) appears on track, and roll control of the booster has been achieved. From Elon: “Last known state for rocket boost stage is 360 m/s, Mach 1.1, 8.5 km altitude and roll rate close to zero (v important!)”
During today's CRS-3 launch to station, SpaceX will attempt to recover Falcon 9’s booster, by executing a reentry burn and then a landing burn over the Atlantic Ocean. If all goes well, these huge landing legs will deploy partway into the landing burn.
Though success is unlikely with this test (30-40% by SpaceX estimate), it represents an exciting effort toward someday developing a reusable rocket, that returns to land near the launch pad.
Image and updates from SpaceX. Here are my photos of the legs, pre-paint.
Fingers crossed for the first SpaceX Landing Leg Test today
The primary mission (cargo to station) appears on track, and roll control of the booster has been achieved. From Elon: “Last known state for rocket boost stage is 360 m/s, Mach 1.1, 8.5 km altitude and roll rate close to zero (v important!)”
During today's CRS-3 launch to station, SpaceX will attempt to recover Falcon 9’s booster, by executing a reentry burn and then a landing burn over the Atlantic Ocean. If all goes well, these huge landing legs will deploy partway into the landing burn.
Though success is unlikely with this test (30-40% by SpaceX estimate), it represents an exciting effort toward someday developing a reusable rocket, that returns to land near the launch pad.
Image and updates from SpaceX. Here are my photos of the legs, pre-paint.