Yes, it IS rocket science !

[simplesteve]

Watched the news a couple of days ago, with great interest in the SpaceX rocket launch/programme.......
So how does the biggest, heaviest rocket ever made, after being launched and flying halfway around the world, manage to ' gently land', arse end first into the ocean ? I mean, this thing is 400 ft long, falling to earth at god knows how many hundred miles an hour, presumably head first, but somehow can stop and do a 180, then ever so gently and controlled ' land' in reverse ?I
I don't get it, but it's pretty awesome

 

[charliegolf]

Thunderbird One did it donkeys ago.

 

[blup]

It’s rocket science, definitely not brain surgery.

 

[simplesteve]

Thanks for the clip - magic !

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Thunderbird One did it donkeys ago.

and that was British.

 

[pete01]

Im better at brain surgery than rocket science, hence my question...

We got to the moon in the 60s, so why do they struggle so much now?

 

[Murdochcat]

There are a few programs about space x testing the reusable rockets complete with some very high profile accidents

 

[Munroast]

Im better at brain surgery than rocket science, hence my question...

We got to the moon in the 60s, so why do they struggle so much now?

folk were brave and daring back then, men were men

health and safety fannies now with mental health

 

[pete01]

folk were brave and daring back then, men were men

health and safety fannies now with mental health

Nice scientific answer, cheers pal

 

[MNW67]

Im better at brain surgery than rocket science, hence my question...

We got to the moon in the 60s, so why do they struggle so much now?

I have often wondered the same.

 

[Koolpc]

Watched the news a couple of days ago, with great interest in the SpaceX rocket launch/programme.......
So how does the biggest, heaviest rocket ever made, after being launched and flying halfway around the world, manage to ' gently land', arse end first into the ocean ? I mean, this thing is 400 ft long, falling to earth at god knows how many hundred miles an hour, presumably head first, but somehow can stop and do a 180, then ever so gently and controlled ' land' in reverse ?I
I don't get it, but it's pretty awesome

Corgis worked on the landing tech of course!!!

Pffffttt!!!

 

[Old Salt]

I think the recent attempts/practice are because they want to make it reusable e.g. space shuttle.

 

[Brigadier]

Im better at brain surgery than rocket science, hence my question...

We got to the moon in the 60s, so why do they struggle so much now?

"Struggle" insofar as the available money is very limited, compared to the Apollo times.
Apollo took almost 1% of US GDP.
NASA now takes less than 0.1% of US GDP. And that's for everything.

Plus, they're less arrised than when they were obsessing over beating the Russians there.

 

[pete01]

"Struggle" insofar as the available money is very limited, compared to the Apollo times.
Apollo took almost 1% of US GDP.
NASA now takes less than 0.1% of US GDP. And that's for everything.

Plus, they're less arrised than when they were obsessing over beating the Russians there.

That makes sense, I knew that

 

[Deleted member 317777]

That makes sense, I knew that

Not to Troll, we’ve not been, no one has.

It’s laughable