SpaceX Releases Raw Video of First Stage Landing Attempt

universetoday.com ^ | April 30, 2014 | Nancy Atkinson on

[BenLurkin]

Video released today by SpaceX confirms the landing legs deployed successfully on the Falcon 9′s first stage booster, paving the way for future vertical soft touchdowns on land. SpaceX’s next-generation Falcon 9 rocket was tested following the launch of the CRS-3 mission for the Dragon spacecraft, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on April 18. This was the first test of the landing legs deployment with a re-entry burn and soft landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

The SpaceX CEO had mentioned the success during a post launch briefing and later tweeted further updates that the Falcon 9 first stage actually made a good water landing despite rough seas, with waves swelling at least six feet. He also spoke briefly of the success during a news conference at the National Press Club on April 25, saying video would be released soon.

.... Obviously this is not the greatest-quality video ever released, but exciting still the same. SpaceX is actually looking for help in cleaning up the video even further.

[Moonman62]

There’s a couple of good frames, but other than that the video is useless. Still, the test was a success.

[Vince Ferrer]

That was disappointing, typically they have great vídeos. They really used these vídeos as great marketing tools.

[Ghost of SVR4]

That was a repaired video?

Doesn't matter, I like this outfit a lot, hope they continue to kick ass..

[Moonman62]

Remember the first stage return test was very low priority compared to the primary mission. They have the telemetry that shows the test was successful.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

BFL

[Ray76]

Good news. The video is just pixelated blobs of color.

[FreeAtlanta]

Call me when they can put and retrieve astronauts from the space station formerly known international space station.

Obama suxs

[Vince Ferrer]

Remember the first stage return test was very low priority compared to the primary mission. They have the telemetry that shows the test was successful.

I am only disappointed in the video, not the test. They previously stated they doubted the stage would even land correctly in the water given the software was expecting flat unmoving ground, not moving waves. The stage itself seems to have done very well, it landed softly and transmitted data 8 seconds after hitting the water, in a controlled shutdown.

[BobL]

It’s sad that the STATISTS on this site REFUSE to appreciate the ACCOMPLISHMENT of SpaceX, and instead blame their crappy video browser.

(just kidding)