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Recent posts

Space X put on notice RobVG October 20, 2025 4:55 pm (Space/Science)

There is no bottom to this barrel... RL October 19, 2025 5:40 pm (CurrentEvents)

John Wheeler's philosophy: "Beyond the Black Hole" RL October 16, 2025 10:00 pm (Space/Science)

Brosz baffled, Bondi busts Bolton ER October 16, 2025 2:08 pm (CurrentEvents)

Science backs up what I have been saying for years... RL October 15, 2025 7:59 pm (CurrentEvents)

No sugar tonight in my coffee, no sugar tonight in my tea ER October 15, 2025 5:07 pm (Space/Science)

Only thing surprising is that people are surprised... RL October 15, 2025 7:12 am (CurrentEvents)

Superwood BuckGalaxy October 14, 2025 5:46 pm (Space/Science)

Lucky U! ER October 14, 2025 2:17 pm (Off-Topic)

Lucky me? ER October 14, 2025 9:51 am (Off-Topic)

JPL about to lose ANOTHER 11% of its people RL October 13, 2025 12:00 pm (Space/Science)

Enjoy this and share.... RL October 13, 2025 3:36 am (CurrentEvents)

Reusable Falcon 9 first stage? September 23, 2011 7:00 pm TB

Some interesting stuff in this FAA permit application.

The Grasshopper RLV consists of a Falcon 9 Stage 1 tank, a Merlin-1D engine, four steel landing legs, and a steel support structure. Carbon overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), which are filled with either nitrogen or helium, are attached to the support structure. The Merlin-1D engine has a maximum thrust of 122,000 pounds. The overall height of the Grasshopper RLV is 106 feet, and the tank height is 85 feet.

The propellants used in the Grasshopper RLV include a highly refined kerosene fuel, called RP-1, and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. The Grasshopper RLV has a maximum operational propellant load of approximately 6,900 gallons; however, the propellant loads for any one test would often be lower than the maximum propellant load. Even when the maximum propellant load is used, the majority of the propellant would remain unburned and would serve as ballast to keep the thrust-to-weight ratio low.

Back in the day, Phil Bono had designs for recoverable Saturn V upper stages that would land vertically on the ground.

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