Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-01-2010 07:40 AM               

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In early December there is planned the first Falcon 9/Dragon demo flight in NASA's COTS program. It is intended as a demonstration mission and will splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Does anyone know if the capsule will be recovered? If so what type of ships will be involved? Will it be the shuttle SRB Recovery ships?

And most important, is anyone producing covers for the recovery?

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-01-2010 09:10 AM               

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SpaceX is planning for the recovery of its Dragon capsule after its parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

During earlier drop tests, Dragon was returned by using three small private recovery boats and then hoisted on shore by a crane. Ultimately, SpaceX wants to recover Dragon by helicopter.

Details about this upcoming flight test will be discussed at a press conference on Monday.

SpaceX will also be attempting to recover the Falcon 9 first stage, which will land in the Atlantic, using one of NASA's two space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ships.

Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-02-2010 06:12 AM               

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Thanks Robert,

Those private recovery boats look rather small for the job. They may be fine in absolutely flat seas relatively close to shore but I'm not sure I would trust them to recover a capsule in the middle of the Pacific (or Altantic) and return it safely to port. Hopefully they will use something more substantial for recovering the crewed version.

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999