So GPS III went up today: I realized I'd rather watch a Falcon 9 launch than any transitory fireworks display. Bob Wilson
I used to go up on the roof to watch shuttle launches. We're about 25 miles farther away, so it's harder to see. I'd really like to get over there one day so see a Falcon launch up closer. Their facility looked pretty impressive when I toured KSC and went out to see the launch pad area.
Always good to see another Block IIIa go up. We used to have to stick out our thumb to get folks a ride to the ISS, it would have been a shame to add insult to injury by also having to use GLONASS..... They also recovered the fairings if I'm accurately informed. If it were anybody else I'd say that they will never re-use the second stages........buuuuuut......
Second stage engine has 'that other' kind of nozzle, but could be recovered with extra effort: Falcon 9 Second Stage Recovery Requires 'Giant Party Balloon' | PCMag I suppose they cost out the effort based on getting only one Merlin back.
The whole stage, tanks, plumbing, controllers, and wiring. There would be a loss of orbital payload mass but significant material savings. The balloon reentry doesn’t make sense to me unless an asbestos bag with outflow gas of some kind to make a boundary layer to wick the reentry heated gas away. Bob Wilson
@bwilson4web I agree there is more recoverable value than Merlin 1D. Sea water exposure even if brief is a downside. But with a high launch tempo, it seems worth a few attempts. Just to see how ugly things get. My guess is that their engineering teams have higher priorities. But how would I know? Retro burn is supposed to manage reentry heating. Did you make up that asbestos bag thing yourself?
It comes from some of the earlier BFR reentry approaches using micro-holes to 'sweat' cryogenic, methane. Asbestos because it is heat resistant. However, some of the stainless steels being used on the BFR might work. Bob Wilson
