Mohith Agadi
SpaceX launches rockets carrying satellites on a regular basis, and they make the news every time too. But this time around the launch garnered more interest than usual because this was the first time they have tried to re-use an already used rocket. The re launch was a roaring success.
This launch is very significant as this is the first time that anyone has ever used components from an old rocket to build a new one. This achievement will make rocket launches in the future more affordable and also cut down the waiting time. At present each rocket costs around $62 million to build, reusing parts will decrease the cost by 30% or more, and the time saved will be significant as well.
The falcon 9 launched today was carrying a telecommunication satellite called SES-10. The lower part of the rocket called the booster had been used last year to resupply the International Space Station. It then landed on one of SpaceX’s landing pads in the Atlantic. After intensive tests for months, it took SpaceX another 4 months to get the rocket ready for launch.
But that’s not all; SpaceX added another feather to its cap by making a successful landing again. The falcon 9, after dropping off the SES-10 satellite, came back to earth and landed on the same floating platform that it had landed on last year. It all happened without a hitch. This opens up new horizons for spaceflight in the future. The successful recovery means that after putting it through another barrage of tests, this rocket could potentially be used a third time.
“It’s an amazing day for space as a whole, and for the space industry,” Musk said in an interview immediately following the recovery. “You can fly and refly an orbit-class rocket, which is the most expensive component of spaceflight.”
“It’s been 15 years to get to this point. A lot of difficult steps along the way,” Musk added. “I’m just incredibly proud of the SpaceX team for being able to achieve this incredible milestone.”
This achievement will also mean that eventually manned missions to Mars will not be a one way trip. But still a lot of work has to be done before SpaceX reaches its goal of reusing a rocket on the same day, but this launch proves that the company is well on its way to achieving that goal.
