http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15117096/spacex-launch-reusable-rocket-success-falcon-9-landing
Earlier today, SpaceX's Falcon9 became the first rocket to successfully launch, land, launch, and land again on an orbital trajectory. This is huge.
Until today, every satellite or capsule that was launched into earth orbit had to be launched using a fresh rocket. These things aren't cheap -- the Falcon9 costs about 60 million dollars alone. When this technology becomes more stable, the price of launching humans and satellites into orbit will drop substantially. This will also lead to a dramatic increase in reliability, because if a rocket has successfully gone to space and come back before, it can be expected to do so again. And again, and again. Just like a Boeing 747 may have made hundreds or thousands of flights, so can be relied upon to fly safely.
This is big news. We're going to hear a lot more about space travel and exploration, going forward.
Earlier today, SpaceX's Falcon9 became the first rocket to successfully launch, land, launch, and land again on an orbital trajectory. This is huge.
Until today, every satellite or capsule that was launched into earth orbit had to be launched using a fresh rocket. These things aren't cheap -- the Falcon9 costs about 60 million dollars alone. When this technology becomes more stable, the price of launching humans and satellites into orbit will drop substantially. This will also lead to a dramatic increase in reliability, because if a rocket has successfully gone to space and come back before, it can be expected to do so again. And again, and again. Just like a Boeing 747 may have made hundreds or thousands of flights, so can be relied upon to fly safely.
This is big news. We're going to hear a lot more about space travel and exploration, going forward.
