We usually see rocket launches and landings from above. But there’s something about seeing the whole thing happen from the ground-up that’s just so much better.
SpaceX just put up a little video clip showing its latest rocket landing from the perspective of the Of Course I Still Love You drone barge. It’s a solid landing, and the rocket doesn’t seem to be in any danger of tipping, either in the video footage or the high-resolution photo sequence that you can see below.
But, check out this alternate view of the rocket as it came into port:
Rocket back at port after careful ocean transit. Leaning back due to crush core being used up in landing legs pic.twitter.com/Pc0hSaUpVy
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 2, 2016
Yep, there’s a definite tilt to the rocket.
That’s because this particular rocket came in unusually hot and fast when it returned, after dropping off a communications satellite. SpaceX’s Falcon rocket series uses a crush core inside the landing legs to absorb extra energy when the rocket touches down — and the geostationary orbit this rocket was returning from left it with plenty of extra energy to burn.
All images via SpaceX flickr.