Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard
The most valuable part of the boosters is the (new and bigger) titanium guide vanes.
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I don't understand how landing the first stage is cheaper in the long run than using a parachute and recovery apparatus.
Extra fuel has to be loaded on the booster for the purpose of decelerating and landing it. When you load extra fuel on a booster, you have to load several times more fuel just to accelerate that extra fuel. In other words, most of the fuel spent by a rocket is used merely to accelerate the weight of the fuel. Finding ways to reduce the need for small amounts of fuel ends up allowing larger amounts of fuel to be saved.
How is the weight and simplicity of a parachute a disadvantage compared to the weight and complexity of powered landing and control systems?