Hmm, yes, normally one would consider an object in free fall when gravity is the only force acting on it (or following Einstein, no force is acting on it). This is what led me to my initial reply about the booster hardly (if ever) being in free fall during its flight.
But your point was about the relevance of gravity on the settling of the debris in the LOX tank in which case one can ignore most forces on the booster and still observe it as free falling.
The why is not easy to wrap my head around, so I understand why Zack and his team made the mistake, but I do get that it is the case. Thanks again!
Niet in de Eerste Kamer. De Senaat maakt gehakt van elke wet die deze kleuterklas weet te vingerverven.