Community Chat

[PickyPicky3]

At the moment the Blue Origin space capsule touched down, the altitude readout was -21 feet (minus 21 feet).

They landed in West Texas, not Death Valley.

Can anyone explain this?

Thanks....

[Snowpuppy]

I belive that reading was "below sea level"?

I was a First Responder to Katrina. While in the infamous 9th Ward our gps indicated we were -feet below sea level.

[PickyPicky3]

I estimate the elevation of the landing spot to be about 1500 feet.

I have watched the descent 100 times. Driving me crazy!

[Kachina624]

• The altitude in Van Horn, TX which was the blast off site is 4, 042 ft.  The touch down site must be in the same vacinity.

The landing pad is located at 31.4517°N 104.7628°W, about 6.1 km (3.8 mi) north of a check-out building and 3.2 km (2 mi) north of the launch pad.

[PickyPicky3]

@Kachina624  Is it possible that a spaceflight altimeter is measuring distance above the ground rather than distance above sea level? Is the altitude achieved above the elevation at takeoff more important than standard altitude measurement?

I'm just guessing here. I can't believe Bezos' toy was inaccurate.

[Kachina624]

@PickyPicky3    That would be my conclusion. 

[GoneButNotForgotten]

this kind of thing is why I'm not a scientist.

[PickyPicky3]

@GoneButNotForgotten @Kachina624 @Snowpuppy 

That was a tough question, but this is a smart group. I sent my question to many, many VERY appropriate scientists and organizations but only the Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space could give me most of what I was looking for. I learned:

-Rockets need different tracking systems than airplanes because they go into thin/non- air environments.

-The Blue Origin landing site was indeed 21 feet lower than the launch site.

-Blue Origin could have used either the actual elevation or 0 feet at the launch site for the flight record. Their flight, their choice.

-Blue Origin only accepts questions from media (no big surprise).

It's pathetic that I have reached old age knowing zero about ground based tracking systems. Not even one piece of trivia.

[Kachina624]

@PickyPicky3    I commend you for your persistence. 

[NYCLatinaMe]

Interesting @PickyPicky3 Thanks for posting.