SpaceX previously landed a rocket back in 2015. Image Credit: YouTube / SpaceX
The private space firm has again demonstrated the viability of reusable rockets for routine missions.
If there had been any lingering doubts about the practicality of reusable rockets, SpaceX has managed to dispel them in spectacular fashion this week after managing to land the first-stage booster of a rocket after it was used to deliver a payload to the International Space Station.
This is now the second time the company has succeeded in landing one of its rockets on the ground using a vertical touchdown after many failed attempts and a great deal of perseverance.
Reusable rockets are a big thing for private space firms as they have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of each launch and make missions in to space a lot more affordable.
You are comparing chalk and cheese. Space shuttle's re-entered the atmosphere from orbit, hitting the upper atmosphere at more than 17,000 mph and experiencing temperatures in excess of 1,650°C (3000°F). A Falcon 9 first stage re-enters at sub-orbital velocity (depending on the mission somewhere between 3,700 & 5,600 mph) and experiences temperatures considerably less than those experienced by the shuttle. A Falcon 9 first stage needs to store it's fuel for less than 10 minutes after lift off, not the two weeks or more of a shuttle flight. Lastly, apart from the orbital manoeuvring syst... [More]
Sorry Waspie. I misread the article. The way I read it the first time, I thought the whole booster was attached when the ship arrived at the space station. Trying to do too many things at once.
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