Space Explored

SpaceX's A Shortfall of Gravitas returns to Port Canaveral with first booster

By Seth Kurkowski

Semptember 1, 2021

SpaceX launched CRS-23 ealier this weekend which carried with it supplies and new experiements to the 7 astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Image: Jared Locke / Space Explored

CRS-23 was the first mission to use A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG) as the sea based landing platform for the Falcon 9 first stage. The new droneship sports an updated design compared to its older fleet counterparts.

Image: Jared Locke / Space Explored

After the first stage finished its burn, it performed a short "boostback" burn to meet up with the floating landing zone. These burns interact with the Falcon 9's second stage in the most beautiful way.

The first stage nailed the landing on the novice dreonship. Then ASOG's octograbber robot drove over and secured the booster to the deck and SpaceX crews began the trip home.

Image: SpaceX

Early Tuesday morning ASOG appeared over the horizion with the now fourth flown Booster 1061 visible no matter where you were along Cocoa Beach.

Image: Derek Wise / Space Explored

SpaceX's ASOG droneship, while can operate automonously, was towed in by log serving tug Finn Fallgout. A vessel that might be replaced by SpaceX's new ship "Doug" that arrived to port only a few hours before.

Image: Derek Wise / Space Explored

This was ASOG's first of many missions with SpaceX. It is unsure as to which droneship SpaceX will favor for the upcoming Inspiration4 launch but in a few months we should see both east coast droneship get work when Starlink launches begin to come back.

Image: SpaceX