Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning two rocket launches in three days
SpaceX is set to have a big few days. On Friday, the Elon Musk-founded company is planning to launch a satellite into space aboard a Falcon 9 booster that has already been to space and back once before. The company will then try to land that booster back on Earth again. Then on Sunday, SpaceX will attempt another rocket launch and landing, while putting a communications satellite into orbit. The Friday launch, which is expected to carry a communications satellite to orbit for Bulgaria, will take flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Sunday launch will take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Similarly, Friday's landing attempt of the first stage of the Falcon 9 will occur on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, while Sunday's attempt will target a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. On Friday afternoon, after sending BulgariaSat-1-- the nation's first geostationary communications satellite -- on its way to orbit, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will attempt to land on SpaceX's other drone ship called "Of Course I Still Love You," which is floating in the Atlantic Ocean. In total, SpaceX has performed 11 successful landings back on Earth. You can watch the Friday rocket action live in the window below. SpaceX hasn't yet released its Sunday webcast link, but that one should also be livestreamed. If successful, the Friday launch would be the second time the company has launched and landed a reused booster. This in itself would be a milestone for private sector spaceflight, since reusable rockets is a crucial element of the company's plans to drastically reduce the cost of access to space. SpaceX's first reused rocket initially flew in April 2016, and again in March 2017. This launch will mark a much faster turnaround of a reused Falcon 9, potentially bringing it closer to its goal of launching and landing in rapid succession, greatly reducing the cost of launching to space. It would also ease space industry doubts about whether SpaceX can stick to its ambitious launch schedule for 2017 and beyond. Musk's goal since founding SpaceX in 2002 has been to make spaceflight cheaper, and all of that hinges upon rocket reusability. Instead of using a rocket once and discarding it, SpaceX -- and other companies like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin -- want to use rockets multiple times, reshaping the economics spaceflight.
Featured Video For You
SpaceX did something amazing over the weekend
相关推荐
- 最近发表
-
- [Herald Review] Tori Kelly thrills fans, hints her love for Korean artists
- Introduction of full nursing care would cost W4.6tr
- U.S. approves foreign military sale for S. Korea's KF
- Leslie Jones in the front row at New York Fashion Week is the best thing you'll see all week
- 24 Museums Dedicated to Black History
- The fastest route to the Vikings' locker room is through a restaurant
- Pakistan at Paralympics: ‘We need attention and investment’
- Typhoon to hit South Korea on weekend
- Discover Secret Swimming Holes and Hidden History in Crystal River, Florida
- Selena Gomez opens up about her recent kidney transplant
- 随机阅读
-
- US to oppose North Korean worker dispatch to occupied Ukrainian territory: State Dept.
- Document shows Japanese coal mine had barbed wire fence to prevent Koreans from escaping
- Briton Raducanu prepared to tackle Rogers, home crowd at US Open
- Seasoned N. Korean diplomat seen as being ill: ex
- Blinken condemns Russia
- Colombian independence reception teems with festive music, dance
- Belgium can still win major title, says determined Hazard
- N.K. seen upgrading missile launch facility
- South Korea beefs up drills amid escalating NK provocations
- Amb. Sung Kim to visit Japan for talks on bilateral issues
- Wenger calls for World Cup every two years
- Bungie's Destiny servers went down, and gamers were furious
- 尝“鲜”盛宴,等你来探!2024年清远西牛麻竹笋尝鲜季即将启幕
- Barty ignores momentum for US Open grinder's mentality
- Belgium can still win major title, says determined Hazard
- Brazil abandons plans to have fans at Argentine qualifier
- 优化广东优质农产品产销资源对接!“农友圈”又有新动作
- 雨城区开展节前涉民生专项执行行动
- NPAD greenlights party reform draft
- Korea Herald CEO Lee appointed head of Foreign Language Newspapers Association
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-