{"id":22346,"date":"2021-12-17T01:35:08","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T17:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-and-drones-capturing-history-one-flight-at-a-time\/"},"modified":"2021-12-17T01:35:08","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T17:35:08","slug":"spacex-and-drones-capturing-history-one-flight-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-and-drones-capturing-history-one-flight-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX and Drones \u2013 Capturing history, one flight at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"img-border featured-image wp-block-image--obfuscated\">\n<p>\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PXG_nX7Exg0?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grasshopper was the first Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle on the company\u2019s road to reusable vehicles. The 10-story tall rocket featured just one Merlin engine and was fairly basic. The purpose of the vehicle was to test software and hardware before rolling them out to the production vehicles. For those more familiar with Starship, this is essentially Starhopper but for the Falcon rocket. Starhopper conducted multiple hop tests, each higher than the last. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-2\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eGimzB5QM1M?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eGimzB5QM1M?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-3\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9ZDkItO-0a4?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9ZDkItO-0a4?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-falcon-9r-full-scale-test-bed\">Falcon 9R \u2013 Full Scale Test Bed<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-4\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0UjWqQPWmsY?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0UjWqQPWmsY?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the completion of the Grasshopper program, SpaceX moved onto Falcon 9 Reusable (F9R). This vehicle was the same size as the Falcon 9 that was flying at the time and allowed continued testing. SpaceX had big ambitions with the F9R program, including tests in New Mexico that would allow for higher altitudes and unpowered descent to better simulate flight environments. This would never happen. Instead, the testing would be confined to their McGregor facility. Ultimately the F9R vehicle would reach a grim end, being destroyed during a test flight. <\/p>\n<p>\t<span class=\"outbrain-ad-label\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<script type=\"text\/plain\">\n\t\t\twindow.adSlotsConfig = window.adSlotsConfig || [];<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tadSlotsConfig.push( {\n\t\t\t\tslotID: '\/1049447\/Outbrain',\n\t\t\t\tslotName: 'div-gpt-ad-outbrain-ad-26029',\n\t\t\t\tsizes: [300, 250],\n\t\t\t\tslotPosition: 'mid_article'\n\t\t\t} );\n\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-5\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZwwS4YOTbbw?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZwwS4YOTbbw?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-falcon-9-and-fairing-recovery-gotta-get-those-sick-views\">Falcon 9 and Fairing Recovery \u2013 Gotta get those sick views<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-6\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/glEvogjdEVY?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/glEvogjdEVY?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SpaceX has used drones outside of its test programs, however. Drone views have been piped into the launch live streams on occasion and have provided some excellent views. While a drone didn\u2019t capture the view of the first-ever Falcon 9 to land, we have had aerial views of other landings<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-7\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GrP3jHuLQ9o?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GrP3jHuLQ9o?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SpaceX also spent some time trying to catch its payload fairings. Each fairing costs about $6 million so being able to reuse them could help cut costs. However, catching fairings out of the air turned out to be a tricky problem to solve. SpaceX had a few successful catches, but most fairings \u2013 that weren\u2019t destroyed upon landing \u2013 were fished out of the water. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SpaceX has since abandoned the idea of catching fairings and now just picks them up out of the water. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-8\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oTH3mq7SsK4?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oTH3mq7SsK4?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starship-development-one-day-they-won-t-explode-right\">Starship Development \u2013 One day they won\u2019t explode, right?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-9\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bYb3bfA6_sQ?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bYb3bfA6_sQ?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SpaceX is currently developing its next-generation superheavy launch vehicle out of Boca Chica, Texas. The first vehicle of the program was called Starhopper. Very similar to Grasshopper, this vehicle was only meant to do short hops. Ultimately, this vehicle didn\u2019t heavily impact the program. In my opinion, it was mostly for publicity. But SpaceX was quickly moving towards vehicles that mirrored the design of Starship. Starship SN5 and SN6 both conducted 150-meter hop tests.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-10\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1HA9LlFNM0?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1HA9LlFNM0?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-11\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MdAKrzOLQTg?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MdAKrzOLQTg?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following these tests came the big flights. SpaceX would fly its prototype vehicles to an altitude of ~10km, reorient the vehicle to the \u201cbellyflop\u201d position to use fins for aerodynamic control, then relight engines to reorient the vehicle to vertical before softly touching down. The first flight following this profile was Starship SN8, but this stream and highlight video didn\u2019t feature any drone video. However, the SN9 and 10 flights that followed did.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-12\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_zZ7fIkpBgs?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_zZ7fIkpBgs?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-13\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ODY6JWzS8WU?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ODY6JWzS8WU?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While both SN8 and 9 failed to land in one piece, SN10 did. Well\u2026 it did for a few minutes. The vehicle blew up shortly after landing due to a not-so-soft touchdown. SN11\u2019s flight, which was heard versus seen due to thick fog, experienced a failure at engine ignition before landing. SN15 would be the first Starship to successfully complete the flight profile and stay intact following the touchdown.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"post-youtube-video-14\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z9eoubnO-pE?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;start=788&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z9eoubnO-pE?version=3&amp;rel=0&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;start=788&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1\" title=\"Starship High Altitude Test - SN15\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Featured image by Derek Wise for Space Explored.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-want-to-help-support-space-explored\">Want to help support Space Explored?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Directly support Jared by joining his&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;(recurring support), or donate through&nbsp;Ko-Fi&nbsp;(one-off support)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shop on&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;to support Space Explored Writers.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"enjoy-reading-space-explored\">Enjoy reading Space Explored?<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grasshopper was the first Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle on the company\u2019s road to reusable vehicles. The 10-story tall rocket featured just one Merlin engine and was fairly basic. The purpose of the vehicle was to test software and hardware before rolling them out to the production vehicles. For those more familiar with Starship, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22346"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22346\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}