ELI5. If the weight of rocket fuel is so important, why do SpaceX boosters waste a ton of fuel landing themselves?
In: Engineering
Because the gimbaling first stage rocket engine costs millions of dollars apiece and it’s better to not smash it into the ocean at mach jesus. The weight of the fuel is important in the second stage because it also requires you to make a much bigger first stage. Putting more fuel in a lander means putting more fuel in the second stage and putting more fuel^2 in the first stage. Putting 5% more fuel into the first stage just means you have a 5% heavier first stage.
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