SpaceX Recovers Payload Fairings Using Parafoils | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.27.25

AirborneNextGen-
10.28.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.29.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.30.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.17.25

Tue, Jun 05, 2018

SpaceX Recovers Payload Fairings Using Parafoils

Recovery Occurred In The Pacific Ocean Following Iridium-6/GRACE-FO Launch

SpaceX has released high-quality photos of the recovery of the payload fairings that protected the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO satellite during launch on May 22.

In a Tweet, SpaceX said that "Falcon 9 fairing halves deployed their parafoils and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean last week after the launch of Iridium-6/GRACE-FO. Closest half was ~50m from SpaceX’s recovery ship, Mr. Steven."

The launch parameters did not allow for the recovery of the Falcon 9 booster that carried the satellite into orbit.

The recovery is another step towards more complete reusability of SpaceX rocket components. The technology may also be used to recover orbital upper stages on future missions. It may also be possible for SpaceX to capture payload fairings before they land in the water.

Building the payload fairings is a labor and time intensive process, and the ability to reuse the fairings will help SpaceX decrease turnaround times and accomplish a more aggressive launch schedule.

(Image provided by SpaceX)

FMI: Original report

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.02.25)

"Aero-News has been working with SUN n FUN as their media partner for the better part of a decade and gotten to know their crew quite well... but this cooperative undertaking has p>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.02.25): Inner-Approach OFZ

Inner-Approach OFZ The inner-approach OFZ is a defined volume of airspace centered on the approach area. The inner-approach OFZ applies only to runways with an approach lighting sy>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: MultiGP Drone Racing - Aviation’s New Action Sport

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Pilots Competed For $10,000 For A First Place Finish… Drone Racing came to the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in January, with pilots competing for>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.03.25): On-Course Indication

On-Course Indication An indication on an instrument, which provides the pilot a visual means of determining that the aircraft is located on the centerline of a given navigational t>[...]

Airborne 10.29.25: X-59 Flies!!!, Kings Aid CFIs, Shutdown Hurts ATC Training

Also: AIR Loses eVTOL Demonstrator, USCG Getting New Helos, Freighter Fleet To Grow, US Army Falls Behind Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with NASA, successfully comple>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC