Amazing Ask-Me-Anyting interview with Elon Musk tonight.
In a few hours, SpaceX will make a first attempt to bring the rocket booster back to land on a drone ship under propulsion with no parachutes. To boost the precision from the prior missions from 10km to 10m, they are using waffle-grid fins. why? Elon makes it intuitive: “The grid fins are super important for landing with precision. The aerodynamic forces are way too strong for the nitrogen thrusters. In particular, achieving pitch trim is hopeless. Our atmosphere is like molasses at Mach 4!”
And personal details, like he sleeps 6 hours each night.
Full reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2rgsan/i_am_elon_musk_ceocto_of_a_rocket_company_ama/?sort=confidence
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