APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

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APOD Robot
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APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by APOD Robot » Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:09 am

Image Falcon 9: Launch and Landing

Explanation: Shortly after midnight on July 18 a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, planet Earth. About 9 minutes later, the rocket's first stage returned to the spaceport. This single time exposure captures the rocket's launch arc and landing streak from Jetty Park only a few miles away. Along a climbing, curving trajectory the launch is traced by the initial burn of the first stage, ending near the top of the bright arc before stage separation. Due to perspective the next bright burn appears above the top of the launch arc in the photo, the returning first stage descending closer to the Cape. The final landing burn creates a long streak as the first stage slows and comes to rest at Landing Zone 1. Yesterday the Dragon cargo spacecraft delivered to orbit by the rocket's second stage was attached to the International Space Station.

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by alter-ego » Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:46 am

APOD Robot wrote: ... Due to perspective the next bright burn appears above the top of the launch arc in the photo, the returning first stage descending closer to the Cape.
Falcon 9.JPG
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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by JohnD » Thu Jul 21, 2016 7:57 am

Wow! The dawn of the next stage in space exploration!
Well done, Spacex! Well done, APOD!

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by bls0326 » Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:32 pm

alter-ego: Thanks for the Launch Profile info.

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by rwlott » Thu Jul 21, 2016 1:19 pm

I love the term "land landing."

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by suicidejunkie » Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:51 pm

rwlott wrote:I love the term "land landing."
Lithobraking without lithobreaking.

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by Evermore » Thu Jul 21, 2016 6:30 pm

I can't see a future in this type of landing .. too hard on the rear end.

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Re: APOD: Falcon 9: Launch and Landing (2016 Jul 21)

Post by Boomer12k » Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:46 pm

Fantastic job.....

And great Pic...
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