SpaceX Is Cutting Its Turnaround Time for a Rocket Re-Launch in Half – Futurism

Posted: May 11, 2017 at 12:18 pm

In Brief SpaceX is planning to re-launch a Falcon 9 rocket into space for its second trip in the space of five months. Reusable rockets are another step along the route to cheaper, faster, easier space travel that's accessible to everyone.

SpaceX has plans to re-launch a used Falcon 9 rocket booster. This will be the Falcon 9s second trip since its launch five months ago, on January 14. The re-launch will also signify the transition of reusable rockets from the realm of the historically notable into the routine business of space exploration.

SpaceX has re-launched a rocket before, but the previous re-launch took place about 12 months after the initial launch. The agency has since cut down the time it requires to re-launch and reassemble its rockets. Ultimately, SpaceX plans to re-launch within a 24-hour period.

More than speed is on the table here; the ability to reuse Falcon 9 rockets saves the company about 75 percent of the total costs of the rocket, $46.5 million of the $62 million total. The end goal will be faster, cheaper, easier space travel thats accessible to consumers and space agencies alike.

After the March re-launch, Elon Musk remarked at a news briefing, I hope people will start to think about it as a real goal to establish a civilization on Mars. Each successful re-launch gets us closer to this aim.

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SpaceX Is Cutting Its Turnaround Time for a Rocket Re-Launch in Half - Futurism

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