That’s exciting.
A moment to savor....the US is back in space in a big way.
The Euro-weinies and Russians are suddenly also-rans.
There’s so much going on, these Falcon Heavy launches are great. I enjoy the employees screaming and cheering in the background.
They recovered the fairings, too, which will be reused next month when SpaceX starts launching their own communications network called Starlink.
The effects of this on the launch industry can not be overstated. This really is a game changer. Cutting the cost of launches by nearly 50%. The funny thing is the big players (or former big players before Space X) Arianespace and Boeing, had both researched this in the 80’s and 90’s and declared it to be “impossible”. Of course a cynic might argue there was no financial incentive for them to reduce launch costs. A few weeks ago Arianespace quietly announced they to were moving to a reusable platform (but being a decade behind Space-X they have a long way to go).
Seeing launches since Apollo 11 to present day launches I marvel at the experience of witnessing a launch and then a landing of boosters 8 minutes later!
Too cool!!!
The recovery is impressive, at sea as well, job well done.
Elon Musk is certainly delivering with SpaceX.
The Brazilian Alcântara Launch Center may become available to American space launch companies. SpaceX could find this advantageous, if they gain access to the equatorial launch facility. At the present time, U.S. based launch facilities are shared by multiple parties, and the scheduling will become increasingly tight in coming years.
The SpaceX launch plan to place a constellation of thousands of communications satellites in low orbit commences this spring. The launch license agreement for the StarLink service imposes a requirement to place over two thousand units in orbit by 2024.
Current SpaceX rockets fuel with RP-1 and Lox, which are a staple fuel mix combination widely available. The transition to a Natural gas derived methane plus Lox combination might require additional fuel logistics with Brazil.
Blue Origin is following a similar development path—will be the next U.S. launch company to benefit from developments which initially favor SpaceX endeavors.
I wish there were a camera on a chase vessel near the landing drone ship, but other than that, wowzo. And this three-landing success is on their second try — the FH test flight “only” got two of them.