SpaceX Did Something Unusual With Falcon 9 Booster Droneship!

SpaceX never fails to surprise us. Just when we think they’ve run out of new ideas, they come up with something innovative again. This time, it’s with their Falcon 9 recovery ships known as drone ships. We all know that SpaceX uses a lot of water on the orbital launch mount for Starship launches. This system is called the water deluge system. The idea is simple: flood the launch pad with water when the 33 engines fire up. The water helps cool down the pad and protects it from damage caused by heat and force. It’s a smart idea for a launch pad, but no one expected SpaceX to use a similar system on their drone ships at sea. At first glance, it might seem unnecessary. SpaceX has been using these drone ships for years without any major problems. Plus, the drone ships are already in the ocean, surrounded by water. Why not just use seawater instead of spraying water onto the deck? To answer these questions, let’s break down what the new system does, why it was introduced, and how it might work.
The water deluge system is designed to protect the drone ship’s deck during Falcon 9 booster landings. During the December 5th landing, footage showed water being sprayed onto the deck just before the booster touched down. This is the first time SpaceX has used a deluge system for booster landings on a drone ship. The idea is similar to the system used for Starship’s launch pad. When a rocket fires its engines, the extreme heat and force can damage the surface underneath. The water helps absorb the heat and reduce the impact. It also helps lower the noise produced by the engines, which can reach up to 180 decibels. Without this protection, repeated landings can wear out the drone ship’s deck.
Why did SpaceX decide to add this system now, after more than a decade of Falcon 9 launches and over 300 successful landings? There are a few possible reasons. Over time, the repeated landings of Falcon 9 boosters may have caused damage to the drone ship decks. The heat and force from the engines can erode the metal surface. Adding a water deluge system helps reduce this damage and extends the life of the drone ships. SpaceX is launching more rockets than ever before. As the number of launches increases, the drone ships need to stay in good condition. The water deluge system helps keep them operational for longer. SpaceX might be planning to increase the power or weight of Falcon 9 boosters. This could create more heat and force during landings, making extra protection necessary.

[Hemifan]

I dont see any water on the drone ship deck. I dont know where this whole thought came....

[WardDorrity]

Love the ship names taken from Iain M Banks' Culture novels.

[davidsandy]

In the ocean the rocket will be exposed to a salt spray environment anyway. No reason not to use sea water. In cases where metals are mixed, I.E. Steel and Aluminum parts, the differences in galvanic potential can start corrosion. Once landed, a freshwater wash would reduce the potential initially but sitting on the deck of the ship, the salt spray will still provide the electrolyte needed to cause corrosion.

[tedunderkoffler]

any thoughts that this was a test to see if the deck temps could be lowered as a prelude to starship booster landing on a larger drone ship?

[lanceferraro]

Jeez, these droning, AI voices are so dull.

[ComeonmenIDT]

catching the booster at the tower it started from was INSANE and awesome at the same time

[jeffingram]

I wonder if this pathfinding for future Starship landings?

[malcolmmellon]

The water deluge system and rocket launchers is mainly to dampen acoustic feedback

[marvinegreen]

Stainless steel is used extensively in the Raptor but the Merlin sea level engines use 3 other metals.
"The sea-level versions of the Merlin engines use a high-strength nickel-chromium alloy, known as Inconel, for the combustion chamber and nozzle. Inconel is prized for its ability to maintain strength and resist corrosion even at extreme temperatures, making it a solid choice for rocket components subjected to intense heat and stress." "The Merlin engines largely use aluminum and titanium alloys for various components, like the turbopumps and rocket chamber, rather than stainless steel." - MS Copilot.

[hotchihuahua]

If you know anything about welding and torches, all this will make a whole lot of sense ! 😁

[glenn_r_frank_author]

Blue Origin is hardly a competitor at all. They have yet (as of Dec 12 2024) launched ANYTHING into orbit. Their New Shepherd is just a thrill ride rocket that does not put anything into orbit. If you wanted to actually talk about a competitor to SpaceX you might look at Boeing and ULA who actually can launch payloads comparable to what SpaceX launches. But even they are not up to the level of SpaceX. RocketLab also has a working system for orbital launch and is working on a larger rocket. If and when Blue Origin actually gets their New Glenn to orbit... then maybe we can start calling them a competitor in the space industry.

[lmfarms]

Doesn't any body see where this is going! It's call Starship, If they are going to lunch & recover. Don't you think it would be wise to use every available ship and lunch pad available.

[Tadrjbs]

Yah, they flew the droneship over New Jersey....😂

[douginorlando]

I hope it’s preparation for a Raptor based Falcon 9 replacement. That would at least double the payload size. Plus they would be ideal side boosters on the starship.

[deanwcampbell]

I absolutely hate AI generated videos!
This is the Dead Internet Theory in real life.

[billkunert]

How long will it be till SpaceX exceeds NASA's total launches?

[JonB-tz]

Water deluge is sound suppression more than anything else

[freedomisntfree]

Put a desalination machine on the barge.

[DavidTekaat]

Instead of sending 1000 starships to the moon / Mars they should send 1000 starship cargo pods, (4000 sq ft), with anti-spin and course correction devices, so they can travel to the moon / Mars by themself.

No need to refuel starship. (No need to build 1000 starship, only about 10 or 20 instead). Instead build 5 or 10 cargo pod pushers, that will catch the cargo pod and push it up to speed and send it on it’s way to the moon / Mars. Cargo pod tankers could either refuel them or exchange cargo pod tankers with them.

When the cargo pod reaches it destination It could be caught by a cargo pod lander. (Build 5 or 10 of them) After catching the cargo pod, it will slow it down, and land it on the moon / Mars. And then return to orbit and be refueled by a cargo pod tanker or exchange cargo pod tankers.

Space shuttle type doors could be installed on the starship and the cargo pods could be ejected by some kind of spring action.

Cargo pods could have built in facilities in them, like a space capsule for 100 people, moon / Mars habitat, refineries, factories, warehouses, farms, dairies, ranches, orchards, fish growing facilities, grocery stores, cafeterias, restaurants, retail stores, hardware stores, bars, amusement centers, aquariums, animated animal zoos, real petting zoos, gyms, swimming pools, boys & girls club, hotels, retirement homes, schools, colleges, health clinics, hospitals, city halls, police stations, jails, repair shops, power plants, recycling plants, composting plants, etc., etc..

Doors could be on the bottom of the cargo pods, no need for external elevators. Large inflatable dome buildings and inflatable tunnels could connect all the cargo pods together. Everything could be covered with 3D printed cement for protection.

Cities on the moon / Mars could be easily assembled this way. All prebuilt on the earth.

Later, after giant refineries and factories are built, cities could be built, piece by piece, more like they are on earth. Perhaps under giant see through water filled domes. (Water filled to protect from radiation, about 2 or 3 feet thick. Habitats could be built with artificial gravity. (centrifugal force)

[trevorkolmatycki]

Heat dissipation? Yes
Sound dissipation? Yes
Force reduction? Nope