glhs837
Power with Control
Cliff notes:
SpaceXs 16th supply run to the ISS launched perfectly, Cargo Dragon capsule looks to be good to go, will arrive at the ISS on schedule with all cargo intact. So, in that sense, mission success.
But the return and landing of the Falcon 9 Block Five first stage capsule to a landing back and Cape Canveral? Well, that was a good news/bad news story.
Good News: Everything was going well until seconds away from landing.
Bad News: Thats when one of the hydraulic motors that power the "grid fins" that along with steering from the rocket nozzles, allow the rocket to land itself, packed it in and stopped working........
Good news: Even with that handicap, the rocket was able to regain an amazing amount of control.
Bad news: Not enough to make it to a safe landing.
Good news: Enough, however, that it was able to deploy it's landing legs set itself down, still upright, in the water just off the Cape, then gently tip over
Even More News: Gently enough that is was still sending telemetry even after laying down in the water .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYDHmcCztc
Not sure if it landed in the water becuase it's been told to not try a solid surface landing it it's unsure, or if it didnt have enough energy to get there. But I am pretty sure if it had a solid surface under it, it would have safely landed. Most likely, the math of possibly blowing up a landing site, of which they only have three on land has been deemed worse than loosing a booster, losing schedule and launch cadence costing more than a booster.
SpaceXs 16th supply run to the ISS launched perfectly, Cargo Dragon capsule looks to be good to go, will arrive at the ISS on schedule with all cargo intact. So, in that sense, mission success.
But the return and landing of the Falcon 9 Block Five first stage capsule to a landing back and Cape Canveral? Well, that was a good news/bad news story.
Good News: Everything was going well until seconds away from landing.
Bad News: Thats when one of the hydraulic motors that power the "grid fins" that along with steering from the rocket nozzles, allow the rocket to land itself, packed it in and stopped working........
Good news: Even with that handicap, the rocket was able to regain an amazing amount of control.
Bad news: Not enough to make it to a safe landing.
Good news: Enough, however, that it was able to deploy it's landing legs set itself down, still upright, in the water just off the Cape, then gently tip over
Even More News: Gently enough that is was still sending telemetry even after laying down in the water .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYDHmcCztc
Not sure if it landed in the water becuase it's been told to not try a solid surface landing it it's unsure, or if it didnt have enough energy to get there. But I am pretty sure if it had a solid surface under it, it would have safely landed. Most likely, the math of possibly blowing up a landing site, of which they only have three on land has been deemed worse than loosing a booster, losing schedule and launch cadence costing more than a booster.
That's that amazing part to me, that the rocket never quit, it kept fighting for the "best crash". Watching the live feed, we got to see the start of the spin, and it was obvious that something was very wrong. Then the feed cut and the guy on the camera immediately started talking up the "Remember, mission success is getting the Dragon to the ISS." 
