9
$\begingroup$

The pad at Landing Zone 1 (Former LC-13 at Cape Canaveral) has a big giant SpaceX logo consisting of a stylized X.

SpaceNews reposted this picture of a guy on the X marks the spot, as distributed by SpaceX.

enter image description here

How close did the landed first stage, on Dec 21, 2015 (Orbcomm OG2 mission) come to the X?

This is relevant, since the X on the ASDS barges is a smaller space so accuracy in hitting the target matters.

enter image description here

On the NasaSpaceflight.com forums, there is a running Barge Landing Bingo thread, where the have divided the surface of the ASDS into a grid, and allowed people to pick grid coordinates to predict where the first landed stage will touch down. It looks like the LZ-1 landing was sufficiently unexpected that the LZ-1 Landing Bingo did not happen.

$\endgroup$

2 Answers 2

14
$\begingroup$

I don't know how precise an answer you're looking for, but looking at this frame from the helicopter video, it looks to me like it came down within one stage diameter of the center of the X:

enter image description here

Combined with the accuracy of the two failed barge landings, I assume this is not a fluke, and the stage can land this accurately on a regular basis.


As far as I know, the Jason-3 mission barge landing is the first time SpaceX has announced their landing accuracy, in this case within an impressive 1.3 meters (~4 feet) of dead center of the target.


Here's a picture looking down the first stage of the Thaicom-8 mission after landing. If the landing leg span is 18 meters, the rocket looks to be around 3 meters off center. This was a "hot and fast" landing from a geosynchronous launch mission.

enter image description here


Musk claimed an 0.7m off-target distance for the FORMOSAT-5 flight.

$\endgroup$
1
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Hitting a barge in the middle of the Atlantic from almost orbital height is pretty darn accurate to a first approximation. I saw that photo, I am curious for actual numbers. There is a shot in one of Elon's videos that suggests it is on one of the legs of the X. $\endgroup$
    – geoffc
    Dec 24, 2015 at 17:25
3
$\begingroup$

From this video of LC1, the answer is revealed. 10 feet (3m) away from dead center is the answer.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.