This is the video of the Falcon 9 first stage attempting a landing on SpaceX's barge. Why is the rocket moving so fast at impact?
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SpaceX Landing Platform video: why is the rocket moving so fast?
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The Falcon 9 can't hover--even one engine at minimum is too much thrust. Thus it must do what KSP calls a suicide burn.
answered Jan 17 '15 at 19:03
Loren Pechtel
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It is actually moving quite slow vertically. It's speed comes from the horizontal component -- which is a result of the vehicle trying (unsuccessfully) to correct its horizontal position. The vehicle was unable to accomplish this with the aerodynamic control surfaces as intended. The control surfaces that were responsible for this ran out of hydraulic fluid.
answered Jan 17 '15 at 16:19
Erik
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The Falcon 9 can't hover--even one engine at minimum is too much thrust. Thus it must do what KSP calls a suicide burn.
answered Jan 17 '15 at 19:03
Loren Pechtel
2,963511
2,963511
SpaceX calls it a "hover slam". - geoffc Jan 17 '15 at 23:41
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