Category: Fun & Curios

It’s like they know what they’re doing

For satellite deployment, skip ahead to ~T+1h29m

Awww maaaan!
Super-nifty vid of the twin side-boosters’ boost-back burns (~T+2m50s)
(full-screen mandatory for full-awe mode)

Sped-up version
Short enough to watch multiple times, full-screen,
paying attention to different things each time

Onboard view from Falcon 9’s flight to space and back during smallsat rideshare mission pic.twitter.com/V5PyKxTlWD

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 5, 2023

This view is from near the top of Stg-1 looking aft.
Notice how the engine plume gets wider as it gets higher due to the drop in the surrounding air pressure. The plume’s colors also change.
If the cold-gas attitude-control thrusters don’t seem to synch-up with the pitch/yaw motion, remember that the more obvious of the thrusters are high on the body, above the center of gravity.
Also notice that after the re-entry burn, when the atmosphere gets dense enough, the trusters go quiet; and the grid fins take the helm. Gimballing engines do the steering when they’re firing.
______
• Previously

Here’s a good, detailed description of what’s goin’ on

This Stg-1’s fifteenth launch
Routine, cool video

61st Falcon9 of 2022
Israeli hi-res reccy-sat mission from the same space launch complex (SLC-4)
that NRO recce programs GAMBIT & HEXAGON used back in the day*

Nice videos
@T+2m40s (Stg1 boost-back) the Stg1 and Stg2 engines are pointed at each other
so the plume interaction is really interesting

______
* Yeah, I worked 21 launches from there in the ’70s

If you’ve ever wondered why I still use the same title for routine successes…