View Single Post
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-12-2015, 11:38
Alan Anderson's Avatar
Alan Anderson Alan Anderson is offline
Software Architect
FRC #0045 (TechnoKats)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Kokomo, Indiana
Posts: 9,112
Alan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond repute
Re: pic: SpaceX historic landing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink View Post
In some very old sci-fi movies, the rockets landed on their tails. Back when I was younger (1970's & 80's) I would scoff at those movies. After all, how ridiculous is it to think that a rocket could land on its tail?
A rocket landing tail-first is not ridiculous. After all, that's how landings have always been done on the moon.



Fuel is cheap, and its weight compares favorably with that of parachutes and wings. Using the same components for takeoff and landing is a definite gain in simplicity. We're just now shaking off the old "performance is paramount" and "every ounce saved is worth it" mindset, and getting back to the simple idea of landing a rocket on a pillar of flame so it can be used again. The way God and Robert Heinlein meant it to be done.
Reply With Quote