SpaceX Set to Launch the World’s First Reusable Booster

Technology Review ^ | March 13, 2014 | By Michael Belfiore

[Vince Ferrer]

SpaceX Reusable Launch System

[Mariner]

That is an important development if it works.

Especially if they can scale up to heavy lift.

[cabojoe]

The launch has been delayed until the end of March.

[Vince Ferrer]

Grasshopper divert

[Mariner]

Werner von Braun invented the technology that's still in use by ULA.

That's amazing all by itself.

But, eventually something else HAD to come along. I'd sure like to know how much this technology differs from what's in dominant use today in US and Russia.

And let's hope the Norks or Iranians don't get their hands on it.

[Telepathic Intruder]

many current customers of launch services, including operators of commercial satellites, aren’t particularly price sensitive

I would assume that includes mostly government rather than commercial enterprises. What competitive company is not interested in the bottom line? Government is probably where private space companies get most of their funding, however.

[Cincinatus]

The Space Shuttle was a reusable booster.

[Vince Ferrer]

I would assume that includes mostly government rather than commercial enterprises. What competitive company is not interested in the bottom line? Government is probably where private space companies get most of their funding, however.

Government has been almost the exclusive customer, along with communications companies, because they are the ones who can afford it. Bring down the price, and new applications will open up. There are also efforts to radically bring down the price of satellites. For instance, there is an effort to bring global wifi access through a satellite constellation. Think of what that could do for robotics, and freedom of speech. I would like global Wifi for journalism that can't be censored. Asteroid mining would become practical. There are a world of applications that would open up.

[Bobalu]

yup, imagine a refurbishable Saturn V.

I will be glad when we can rely on SpaceX instead of the Russians to get people to the ISS.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Touché. Except for the external fuel tank the whole thing was reusable. The only problem is that it costed almost half a $billion to refurbish after each launch. Almost as much as it would cost to build another one.

[Jonty30]

I think that reflects commercial enterprises as well, at least to some extent.

If you’re going to pay millions to launch a satellite into orbit, it’s probably more important to have a successful launch than it is to scrimp on a few bucks.

[Vince Ferrer]

The Space Shuttle was a reusable booster.

The shuttle was a nice try at reusability, but in practice fell far short. The main fuel tank (orange) was completely expendable. The solid rocket motors (white) were recovered, but the amount of repair work needed to use them again put the price of reuse to be not much less than building new ones. The orbiter was the reusable part, but even it had to go through very expensive repairs and checks between flights.

The goal of the Spacex reusable rockets, is to have minimal repairs between flights, ideally just to refuel it.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Hah, government in fact. I particular liked this oxymoronic statement:

Arianespace has indicated that it may ask for an increase in government subsidies to remain competitive with SpaceX

[Cincinatus]

I know what their goal is. I also know that reusability has been a goal of spaceflight since it began and every attempt to achieve it has fallen short for one reason or another.

Reusable is one thing; cheap access to space is something else. SpaceX is about to learn that lesson.

[Vince Ferrer]

Arianespace has indicated that it may ask for an increase in government subsidies to remain competitive with SpaceX

Europe is broke. Good luck with that.

[Vince Ferrer]

Reusable is one thing; cheap access to space is something else. SpaceX is about to learn that lesson.

At least they are trying. In fact, there are a lot of innovative groups out there, Spacex is just one. One of them can probably be successful.

STS-129 Ascent Highlights

[Telepathic Intruder]

That’s a point I’ve heard before. Which is why things like simple washers and rivets are made from gold or titanium. Better to have them last a while than replace them too shortly.

[Reaganez]

SpaceX is teaching lessons.

They are cutting cost to access space by about 3/4.

[4rcane]

spacex shows us that $20 billion/year nasa funding is a waste of money. Spacex isn’t even operating with $20billion/year and yet could achieve more than nasa

[GeronL]

The SRB on the shuttle was supposed to be reusable too