U.S. aerospace firm successfully launches and retrieves its
first recycled rocket
SpaceX
successfully launched and then retrieved its first recycled rocket on Thursday,
a historic feat and the biggest leap yet in its bid to drive down costs and
speed up flights.
It was
the first time SpaceX founder Elon Musk tried to fly a booster that soared
before an orbital mission. He was at a loss for words after the Falcon 9 core
landed on the bull’s-eye of the ocean platform following lift-off with a
broadcasting satellite.
“This
is a huge day. My mind’s blown, frankly,” Mr. Musk said.
He
called it an “incredible milestone in the history of space” and predicted,
“this is going to be a huge revolution in spaceflight.”
Mr.
Musk foresees dozens, if not hundreds of repeat flights, for a booster and
rocket turnarounds of as little as 24 hours, perhaps by next year. Land, refuel
and then back up again, with everything leading to one day putting humanity
“out there among the stars.”
This
particular first stage landed on an ocean platform almost exactly a year ago
after a space station launch for NASA.
SpaceX
refurbished and tested the 15-story booster, still sporting its nine original
engines. It nailed another vertical landing at sea on Thursday once it was
finished boosting the satellite for the SES company of Luxembourg.
Loud
cheers
SpaceX
employees outside jammed Mission Control at the Hawthorne, California, company
headquarters cheered loudly every step of the way and again when the satellite
reached its proper orbit.
Longtime
customer SES got a discount for agreeing to use a salvaged rocket, but wouldn’t
say how much. It’s not just about the savings, said chief technology officer
Martin Halliwell. He called it “a big step for everybody something that’s
never, ever been done before.”
Source: THE HINDU-1st April,2017
