For billionaire inventor, Elon Musk and the folks at SpaceX, 2016 was not the greatest of years. After previous successful launches and landings of rockets in 2014 and 2015, last year was riddled with explosions, unsuccessful landings, and the mounting apprehension that space travel is not as close as we believe. However, the recent success of Falcon 9 shows 2017 will be a rebound year for SpaceX.
Founded in 2002, SpaceX is one of the few private companies given contracts by NASA for the successful engineering, designing, development and testing of future space transport vehicles. As NASA has been stymied by limited operational budgets from the Federal Government, and its continued inability to overcome Low Earth Orbit flight, SpaceX has become a vital ally in advancing space travel. As of 2016, SpaceX was the only private entity in both successful launch and landing of multiple rockets. This will prove a vital cog in making space exploration and travel affordable, as the cost of producing rockets has reached nearly $10 million per rocket. The re-tooling and re-application will allow for a rocket’s re-use multiple times. This has been proven as only a few SpaceX rockets have been utilized in various re-supplying missions to the ISS Space Station currently in Low Earth Orbit.
Devastated after explosions in mid and late 2016, the SpaceX folks rebounded in a large way last week. On January 17, 2017, the Falcon 9 rocket revived past successes, as the controlled vehicle lifted off from its launch pad, and after reaching atmospheric travel, returned safely to its water-based landing platform. Musk, in a recent interview, stated a fuel line re-design netted positive results, and the failures of 2016 were the catalyst for innovative thought of the new propulsion system. Musk further stated the new fuel distribution systems showed monumental gains over previous counterparts, and the increases should allow for upcoming rockets to travel longer distances without the need for re-fueling. Finally, Musk affirmed the goal of travel, and eventual colonization of Mars, remains the paramount goal for the SpaceX group.
Putting a disastrous 2016 behind them, the success of Falcon 9 should prove Musk and SpaceX are bridging the gaps for space travel. Not far off are the ideas of exploring the galaxy, possible colonization of far off planets, or even trips to the Moon. Though pressures mount and expectations of results remain, the SpaceX program remains our best hope for traveling in the glorious galaxy around us.
JA3Tech 