- #1
DTM
- 73
- 9
I don't know that many details about the latest Falcon 9 v1.1 launch and return landing, but I know the 1st stage returned and landed near the launch site. I can't understand why this makes any sense. I would think that would take a huge amount of fuel to completely change directions to get back to where they started. I would think simply deploying a parachute and letting a ship pick up the rocket down range would have saved a huge amount of fuel/weight. Unless the 1st stage made a complete orbit around the earth, which I don't believe is very likely for a 1st stage rocket.