Posted on 06/01/2017 6:50:09 AM PDT by BenLurkin
While the concept is not new — the space shuttles, for instance, flew multiple times in orbit — it’s important for saving money as well as technical reasons, he noted.
SpaceX refurbished the Dragon for Thursday’s planned launch with a new heat shield and fresh parachutes for re-entry at mission’s end. There were so many X-rays and inspections that savings, if any, were minimal this time, said Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of flight reliability for SpaceX.
The vast majority of this Dragon has already been to space, including the hull, thrusters and tanks. It’s packed with 6,000 pounds of station cargo, including mice and flies for medical research.
While this Falcon booster is new, SpaceX will attempt to land it at Cape Canaveral following liftoff so it, too, can be reused. So far, first-stage boosters have flown back and landed vertically four times on the designated X at the Air Force station; even more touchdowns have occurred on ocean platforms, all part of an effort to save time and money.
Thursday’s mission, dubbed CRS-11, will carry nearly 6,000 pounds of supplies and payloads, according to SpaceX.
The launch window opens at 2:55 p.m. Pacific time. If any problems arise, a backup launch window will open at 2:07 p.m. Saturday.
The private SpaceX and NASA are also discussing the possibility of flying a reused booster on an upcoming delivery mission.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
Elon Musk’s political capital shrank significantly with his threats to our President.
How much CO2 is ButtHead Musk rockets putting in the air?
After all this hypocritical punk should practice what he preaches.
Someone needs to educate Musk that life would not exist without CO2.
CO2?!? That’s your tax dollars the welfare queen is burning.
Thanks for posting.
Anybody got a link to watch liftoff live?
SpaceX To Make History With Launch Of Recycled Dragon Spacecraft. What a stupid headline, even the article itself states the Space Shuttle program was the first to use this concept.
Kerosene makes CO2. Lots of it.
No one knows what becomes of plumes in the stratosphere and ionosphere.
Yet Musk is all knowing.
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