SpaceX crash landing video

[Ombligo]

Pretty impressive video of the failure.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/01/16/dr.../21131099/

Apparently it ran out of hydraulic fluid used to control the steering fins about a minute before touchdown. (how do you run out of it in a closed system?)

[Paul F.]

Apparently, it's not a closed system..
And you have to admit, the control system ALMOST pulledit off, despite the wicked lean on the stage.
I'd bet a small amount of real money that barring bad weather (and a bobbing barge) they'll nail itnext time!

[rgG]

I saw that earlier today. Pretty impressive that it almost made it.

[Spock]

"Musk said a few days ago that not only do they know what the problem was, but they've already solved it. The rocket's guiding fins require hydraulic fluid to operate. They had enough fluid to operate for 4 minutes, but ran out just prior to landing. Their next launch already carries 50% more hydraulic fluid, so it shouldn't be an issue next time."

Looks like they nailed the problem.

[Carnos Jax]

I'm kinda surprised (more likely ignorant) as to why the guidance fins are so crucial to the final moments of landing (I figure the stage is moving too slow for the fins to generate much aerodynamic force).

[Don C]

Reminds me of Neal Armstrong's descent, except he had just (barely) enough instead of almost enough to make it down safely.

[Paul F.]

Carnos Jax wrote:
I'm kinda surprised (more likely ignorant) as to why the guidance fins are so crucial to the final moments of landing (I figure the stage is moving too slow for the fins to generate much aerodynamic force).

Speculation on a space related forum I read was that the fins keep it oriented until the last couple minutes, then the smaller jets take over, but if the fins don't keep it mostly vertical up until the last minute or two, the control jets have a hard time correcting such large error... Plus, at least a couple fins stuck "out", and also made it harder to correct the lean.

Still pretty damn close, given that the first two wet-landing attempts were 'within 10km' of their aim-point.

[Carnos Jax]

Thanks Paul.

[ztirffritz]

Musk tweeted "we should fail for entirely different reasons next time"

[Buzz]

Why don't they just have it pop out a giant RC parafoil that can "fly" the stage back to the barge, then use some small jets for the final touch down? ...seems like that sort of system would represent a much lighter payload, and allow for greater maneuverability, which would make a successful landing a whole lot easier.
==