Hello All,

Here (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRC...eature=youtu.be and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDoyWcLtBC4 ) are videos of the CRS-8 mission’s Falcon 9 first stage at Port Canaveral. Watching the technicians moving about underneath and next to the stage give a sense of how big it is! Here is a sequence of approach and landing photos taken from the drone ship as the stage came down (see: http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/1...exs-drone-ship/ ). Also:

Here are photos of the stage being returned to port and being lifted off the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship “Of Course I Still Love You” (see: http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/1...eturns-to-port/ and http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/1...nding-platform/ ). In addition:

Two commenters to the immediately above-linked article brought up an interesting possible variation of SpaceX’s current launch-and-landing mode:

Jerry Cobbs · Educational Technologist at Aetos Systems, Inc.
Considering that we have had the ability to launch *to* space *from* a ship for a while (i.e., SeaLaunch), SpaceX can now claim to be the "Ginger Rogers of space travel" (as in, she did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in heels).
Like · Reply · 3 · 16 hrs
Greg Beat
The Russian sale of SeaLaunch has not been announced, but Boeing went to court for the $$ it is owed from that earlier Zenit/Boeing joint-venture.
Possibly the "bidder" has already considered this option (below).
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You bring up an interesting launch profile, that could be explored further.
... move the launch platform (instead of landing barge) for highest reliability in recovery of first stage (on land) ...

**Consider this**
SeaLaunch is designed to launch rocket from a sea platform (converted oil platform) that moves to the Earth's equator for maximum advantage of GEO satellites.

1. Setup port operations for Sea Launch on western coast of South America or Africa (near equator) and near an intercontinental air freight airport (satellite delivery).

2. Construct a landing pad near South America (Ecuador) or Africa (Gabon area) west coast close to equator.

3. SeaLaunch platform sails west along equator.
The exact location would vary depending on each flight, BUT it should be an ideal position (based on payload/launch weight) for the first stage to reach that coastal pad for landing (higher reliability).

4. First Stage is then transported to ocean port operational area for check-out, attachment of second stage/satellite, reload to transport ship and re-launch.

I hope this material will be interesting.

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