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Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor

Happy “Scary Tree Thursday”, Wheelizens!

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor

Some good amateur footage of the Falcon Heavy boosters landing -- with sonic booms. Gave me a better sense of how “hot” those things come in.

http://digg.com/video/simultaneous-landing-spacex-sonic-boom

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor
Reply to  Mac

Hi, Mac!

I’m even more impressed with SpaceX’s technology after seeing that video. (Especially given the Falcon 9’s size.)

I wonder how much kinetic energy those things have right before the landing burn starts.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor
Reply to  Mac

Speed of sound is roughly 740 mph (depending on air temp / humidity). Sound of rockets firing immediately follows the shock wave, which suggests to me the boosters are still supersonic when the engines are re-lit…but I might have that wrong.

Paddy O'Furnijur, Fascista Ubriacone
Editor
Reply to  Mac

Drag is proportional to the square of the velocity (holding everything else constant).

Paddy O'Furnijur, Fascista Ubriacone
Editor

Sure Happy It’s Thursday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, and Mac!

Great video, Fatwa! Thanks!

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor

Heya, Paddy!

Glad you and Mac enjoyed the video; we’re such geeks ’round here. 😉

Thanks for the clarification re drag.

Paddy O'Furnijur, Fascista Ubriacone
Editor

I didn’t want to do this, but with the above picture, you’ve forced me to.
You want yer drag? I’ve got yer drag right here!

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor

Heh.

I didn’t want to do this, but with the above picture, you’ve forced me to.

That sounds rather Frischian.

Paddy O'Furnijur, Fascista Ubriacone
Editor

Frisian?

Neigh, you varlet!

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist
Editor

It’s been a while since I’ve been called a varlet.

*Thinks to self*

“I’ve still got it; yay!”