Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-13-2020 09:47 PM
quote:Originally posted by mercsim: Can someone confirm there are actually RCS thrusters?
Elon Musk confirmed the use of thrusters during a press conference in 2017:
The fairing has its own thruster control system and a steerable parachute. So it's its own little spacecraft. The thrusters maintain its orientation as it comes in, as it reenters, and then we throw out the parachute and the parachute steers it to a particular location.
Ben Member
Posts: 1908 From: United States Registered: May 2000
posted 06-13-2020 10:20 PM
quote:Originally posted by mercsim: ...it would make more sense for them to be cold gas for simplicity and safety.
Yes, cold gas nitrogen according to articles. Same as the first stage steering during landing.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-14-2020 03:11 PM
quote:Originally posted by GACspaceguy: If anyone hears of the results of those attempts please let us know.
Photos of the fairing halves arriving back at the port show they were recovered intact, but not caught.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 07-20-2020 06:06 PM
It is being reported that SpaceX's two recovery ships "Ms. Chief" and "Ms. Tree" managed to capture both halves of the Falcon 9 rocket payload fairing from the ANASIS-II mission today (7-20-2020). This is the first time both halves were caught on the same mission.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-20-2020 06:19 PM
Confirmed by Elon Musk (via Twitter):
Both fairing halves caught from space by SpaceX ships!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-21-2020 12:58 PM
From SpaceX (via Twitter), footage of both fairing halves' catches:
rasorenson Member
Posts: 103 From: Santa Clara, CA, USA Registered: Nov 2009
posted 07-21-2020 08:32 PM
YOWZA! SpaceX continues to conquer access to space.
oly Member
Posts: 1106 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 07-21-2020 10:06 PM
Nice work catching both halves. I am curious to know if the time stamps on the cameras are accurate or synchronized, and how the fairing thruster development has influenced the fairing recovery.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 08-07-2020 05:13 PM
Any word on catching the fairings on this morning's (Aug. 7) tenth Starlink launch?
MSS Member
Posts: 737 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 08-07-2020 05:41 PM
The answer at 1:04:50 into the launch webcast:
We did not manage to catch them this time, but we will keep trying.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 08-08-2020 06:59 AM
OK thanks. They did not catch them but I wonder if they were able to recover them from the ocean splashdown for reuse or were they damaged. I find the recovery and reuse of the booster and fairings fascinating.
MSS Member
Posts: 737 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 08-08-2020 01:33 PM
Here are photos via Ken Kremer on Twitter.
Fairly intact fairings arrived back Port Canaveral this morning. This afternoon both halves still on deck twin fairing boats Ms Tree and Ms Chief with catch nets.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-18-2020 10:25 AM
One of the two fairing halves from today's (Aug. 18) eleventh Starlink launch was caught by the Ms. Tree recovery ship.
The other fairing made a soft water landing will be retrieved by the Ms. Chief.
posted 08-18-2020 10:54 AM
Thanks Robert, this is becoming a big win and cost cutting effort!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-18-2020 11:08 AM
While it is certain there are some savings (given the cited $6 million cost for a new fairing), SpaceX has not released any accounting or details as to how much it costs to recover and service the fairing halves for their reuse. So the extent of the "win" is unknown.
It is also unclear if SpaceX passes any of the savings onto its customers.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 08-18-2020 11:49 AM
I do see your point. I was also thinking about supply chain. Right now, in aviation suppliers are having difficulties and I have seen lead times on supplied parts of 12 weeks or more. Being able to have “parts on shelf” is a big driver on schedule and return to service activities. Having boosters, engines, and now fairing quickly available has to be a significant impact on being able to provide an on time service.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 934 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 08-18-2020 03:48 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: It is also unclear if SpaceX passes any of the savings onto its customers.
I would assume that the majority of the savings goes back to SpaceX, which, given their strategic plan, would most likely be used either on producing Starlink satellites or Starship development.
Still, even if SpaceX, due to reused fairings, only knocks another $100,000 off the cost of a launch for a "consumer," that is a win for the consumer too. Further, it makes it that much harder for the rest of the commercial launchers to compete.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-18-2020 05:28 PM
From Elon Musk (via Twitter):
Aloha, welcome back from space.
oly Member
Posts: 1106 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 08-18-2020 09:03 PM
Although somewhat Kitsch, I applaud SpaceX for producing this clip. Great to see.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 09-03-2020 08:46 AM
Looks like they are trying another catch today on the Starlink 11 flight. Let us know if the catch was successful.
I look at these catches similar to the early booster recoveries, at some point they will be highly successful, but wonder what SpaceX would consider a "normal" recovery success percentage.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-04-2020 02:15 PM
From Ken Kremer of SpaceUpClose (via Twitter):
Both fairing halves arrived broken to bits on SpaceX fleet ships moments ago...
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2608 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 10-06-2020 10:42 AM
SpaceX today (Oct. 6; 13th Starlink mission) reported catching the "active" fairing half and it was the third flight of that half. The catch of the "passive" half was aborted but it will be picked up from the ocean.
Ms. Tree caught the fairing half that flew in support of two previous missions!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44834 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-18-2020 09:47 AM
Per SpaceX production supervisor Andy Tran with regards to Sunday's (Oct. 18) Starlink 14 launch:
It looks like we had a good catch on both fairing halves, but the corner of the net on Ms. Tree didn't hold up and gave way. We didn't have any impacts to the recovery team personnel, so we will bring them and see if we can use them a future flight.
posted 06-13-2020 09:47 PM
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