.50calBMG

I wonder if they are still going to push for a 2024 landing in the media? That was definitely the nail in the coffin for that happening. What does that mean for the boosters that had to launch within a year?

SLS was required by law to launch in 2016. If there is a deadline, it will find a way to push it back.

If memory serves correctly, it wasn't even a full SRB stack either. It was a left over 4 segment with a dummy fifth segment added on top, and maybe a different nozzle. Added on top of all this that the total impulse of the SLS is greater than STS, but somehow can't launch near as much to orbit (in the currently only funded version) and is more expensive and wasteful per launch is mind boggling.

It really is amazing how close they got on the first try, way better than the early F9 attempts. I was guessing that the flip would be mistimed and they would pancake, but it was about as close to perfect as it could have gotten. I was telling my coworkers that it would probably be 5-6 flights before they landed one, now I think its probably closer to 2-3. once again, SpaceX is really good at doing the impossible. o7

There is also some elasticity to the cable used, so it's not a jerk so much a a gentle pull.

Man, 2020 just keeps going. There's gotta be an off button for it somewhere.

"Norminal insertion" -John I.

Do you have any sense as to how much sample you were able retain after the tag? Is there a way to measure that in the return capsule?

So, they learned from OFT-1 then?

Also wouldn't be getting a 1G constant acceleration, not worth doing.

I guess that's one way to bypass the raptor's OBOGS problems...

It is, but one that was supposed to have some limited altitude capability so it could be used over land as well as water.

Dogleg on the return may be easier than you would think with all the aerodynamic control it has, just crank it over after the entry burn. Falcon 9 glides pretty well for a rocket, and they already do somewhat of a dogleg anyway for their normal landings, just more vertical than horizontal. Besides, a bit of extra lateral G loading won't hurt, not after seeing what CRS-17 made it through without breaking up. Makes you wonder if that mission gave them the confidence to try a launch like this?

That would add nothing but complexity, weight, and failure points, and would be nothing but a hindrance on any planet but earth. There is a reason roton didn't get developed further.

Even as one of the ones on the forums known for bashing SLS, it certainly has a cool factor for looks. The block 1 with the tiny upper stage for a rocket a third the size still looks wrong though.