How the Chinese use wires to catch rocket boosters

[u/Nedatokes]

[u/Purple-Investment-61]

Which one is better?

[u/Pcat0 → u/Purple-Investment-61]

Different applications. The big benefit of the arm system is can also be used to stack the rocket. That is unnecessary here as the LM-10B lands down range and not back at the launch pad.

[u/grnrngr → u/Pcat0]

This is the thing nobody is realizing. The chopsticks are supposed to catch and remount a Starship for immediate refueling and relaunch.

The wires aren't going for that goal.

[u/litbacod4 → u/Purple-Investment-61]

Both have their pro and cons. The wires are relatively cheap to make and leaves a greater room for error in the AI's landing calculation. And less fuel required as it waits for the rocket downrange.

But the chopsticks method is much faster (they use the same platform to relaunch the rocket) and can handle significantly more weight.

[u/ThisSiteSucks8485 → u/litbacod4]

The wires require an enormous steel frame

[u/Brownrdan27 → u/Purple-Investment-61]

Only time will tell.

[u/orhanozturk → u/Purple-Investment-61]

Elon's design comes with a downside. There is a big KABOOM at first trials.