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falcon 9

SpaceX has launched a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which would accept been big news a few years ago. At present, it happens all the time. However, there is something very of import about this most recent flight. For the offset time, SpaceX has reused a Falcon 9 for a NASA launch, and this is also the first time it has sent a reused Dragon sheathing to the ISS. This is a large step toward 100 pct reusability in space travel.

The launch took identify this morning at 10:36 AM Eastern time afterwards a number of delays. The launch at Greatcoat Canaveral went off without a hitch. Not only did the Falcon ix successfully deliver the Dragon to orbit, it came back down to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. SpaceX can at present refurbish the rocket and use information technology nevertheless again. The Dragon capsule is expected to attain the ISS on Dominicus conveying a load of supplies and new equipment. There might be some Christmas presents in in that location, also.

The Falcon nine used in this launch is no stranger to NASA. SpaceX used the aforementioned outset phase booster to launch a different Dragon capsule to the ISS back in June. Following that launch, the rocket came back downwards to the same landing zone it used subsequently today's flight. The Dragon capsule that'southward currently en road to the ISS previously visited it back in April 2022. Different the Falcon 9, Dragon capsules don't land propulsively. They but have parachutes.

NASA has been understandably cautious with SpaceX'southward pre-flown rockets. The company has been able to use them for commercial flights that deliver satellites to orbit. None of the re-flown rockets accept shown an increased incidence of problems, and SpaceX hasn't had a failure in flight since the June 2022 explosion during an ISS resupply mission. At that place was a launch pad explosion in 2022, only that rocket had not been flown before.

Launching a rocket and Dragon capsule that take been recovered from past launches gets the company very close to truly reusable vehicles. SpaceX previously claimed that reusable rocket technology could save information technology every bit much as 30 percent on the cost of getting to infinite. Launching a new Falcon nine costs a fleck more than than $60 million, then a reused rocket might cost around $twoscore million for customers. However, it's unlikely SpaceX would exist passing all the savings along to customers. SpaceX has reportedly spent most $1 billion developing its reusable rocket technology, then it could pay for itself in a few years.