Images of Falcon 9 first stage fins and landing platform
The heat of competition: Elon Musk today tweeted images of the floating landing platform and new fins to be tested on SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 attempt to safely land the first stage vertically.
The launch is presently scheduled for December 16. Imagine the excitment if that first stage successful lands on that platform.
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The heat of competition: Elon Musk today tweeted images of the floating landing platform and new fins to be tested on SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 attempt to safely land the first stage vertically.
The launch is presently scheduled for December 16. Imagine the excitment if that first stage successful lands on that platform.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
The pictures at the link look nothing like X-wing style fins, not even close.
With the addition of the steering fins adding some additional complexity (but also obviously solving some anticipated challenges) I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of attempts will be needed before there is a perfect landing on the barge. However, when it is successful, it will instantly revolutionize the launch industry.
Another thing I saw in the tweets from Musk is that in the future they anticipate refueling the booster at the barge and it flying itself back to the Florida. That will be spectacular to see!!!
It would look more “X”-like if you viewed them from the top/front of the booster. I don’t think that this is really a Star Wars reference (although you are probably supposed to get that thought in your head) as much as it is playing on the “X” in the company’s nick-name, Space-X. Even with the power of the Falcon rocket, the Death Star is safe. … For now.