SpaceX is Building a Vertical Take of and Landing, Reusable Launch Vehicle

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2011/09/spacex-is-build.html

by FrojoS • 15 years ago

40 13 15 years ago

Here is a more informative link that I wish I had provided instead: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-the-box-again-meet-the-grasshopper/

JshWright2• 15 years ago

s/Lunch/Launch/ (I hope...)

mortice• 15 years ago

You don't hope for vehicles delivering reusable lunch? I can't imagine anything better.

FrojoS• 15 years ago

Thanks, I fixed it. Here is a link with some more info: http://moonandback.com/2011/09/24/spacex-thinking-outside-th...

CWuestefeld• 15 years ago

s/Lunch/Launch/

Isn't that the intended usage? See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Out_Space_Nuts

pbreit• 15 years ago

Keep on the lookout for a SpaceX launch to the space station in December or January (unfortunately delayed by recent Soyuz failure).

Nick_C• 15 years ago

The Russians have said nyet to that. Probably politics at play--no doubt they are enjoying the kudos from being the sole supplier--so it may change.

wanderful2• 15 years ago

Does anyone know how this compares to Armadillo Airspace's VTOL technology, and what Armadillo's long term strategy is for its technology?

maaku2• 15 years ago

Two totally different things. This is for recovery of their (SpaceX's) first stage rocket.

wanderful2• 15 years ago

If both are using VTOL, one for a small object, one for a large, how is it all that different?

JshWright2• 15 years ago

Does this capability have any purpose here on earth? Seems like a difficult way to get to 10,000 feet...

InclinedPlane• 15 years ago

These are test flights to simulate some of the conditions the actual, practical vehicle would experience. The end goal is to create a reusable first stage for the Falcon 9. It would operate similar to the normal Falcon 9 during launch, after it burned through its main propellant store it would separate from the rest of the stack (which would then proceed on ahead as usual) then undertake a short burn with a single engine to decelerate the 1st stage (which, at this stage, carries no upper stages, payload, and is mostly empty of fuel, so it is a much easier task than on the way up) enough to prevent it from breaking apart when it contacts the atmosphere. Then, the 1st stage will reenter (somewhat gently), parachutes will open to slow the atmospheric descent and finally small thrusters will guide the stage to a soft, safe landing (perhaps back at the original launch location, perhaps at some other location downrange).

Later the recovered 1st stage would be refurbished and returned to service as part of another Falcon 9. Done properly this should reduce the cost of launches by about another order of magnitude over the Falcon's already ridiculously low costs.

geuis• 15 years ago

Actual article, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=38546

SpaceX is Building a Vertical Take of and Landing, Reusable Launch Vehicle

Related Stories