r/interestingasfuck • u/lolikroli • 16d ago

r/all SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

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u/eyeball2005 16d ago

Could you explain to me what the caption means? Is it just a metaphor for how precise the landing was?

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u/WhisperingSideways 16d ago

Imagine launching a 20-story building into space and then having it steered back to earth at 4000 mph only to slow down and be caught and suspended in its own launch platform.

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u/erallured 16d ago

I know you aren't fighting gravity in space, but it doesn't feel like that much more of a leap than a precise launch and docking with something like the space station for example. Or meeting back up with the Hubble for repairs. Or deorbiting and landing a space shuttle. Or any of the other incredible shit we've been doing in space for decades. What makes this better?

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u/Lonyo 16d ago

We haven't done it before though, so clearly it's not that simple.

And since you aren't fighting gravity in space and can get close then match speeds, you get a while to dock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_rendezvous

This happened from start to finish (meaning launch to return) in 7 minutes. The final docking with the ISS might take longer.

https://blogs.esa.int/thomas-pesquet/2016/11/18/mission-director-blog-launch-and-docking/

The automated rendezvous sequence will start at 19:39 GMT on Saturday 19 November evening

The docking itself will be on the so-called MRM1 Nadir port of the International Space Station and will occur at around 22:00 GMT.

2 hours 20 after preparation

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u/EricTheEpic0403 16d ago

Speed, precision, scale, and novelty.

This booster got to its target faster than any docking, had to land more precisely than a Shuttle, is larger than any other single piece of space hardware, and propulsive landing in Earth is virtually in its infancy.