Early on Saturday morning , the ambitious secret quad transfer society SpaceX assay an audacious experimentation that had never been try previously : landing a portion of a rocket safely back on Earth so that it can be re - used . While part of the mission was a success , unluckily the rocket slammed a shade too hard onto its landing launching pad and was smashed into bit .
“ Close , but no cigar , ” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted . “ augur well for the future tho ’ . ”
Lift - off of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully demand position from Cape Canaversal , Florida , at 04:47 on Saturday . The vehicle ’s main goal was to supply some 2,269 kilograms ( 5,000 pound ) of freight to the orbit International Space Station , including groceries , experiments , equipment and belated Christmas presents for the astronaut . win in this powerful delivery is peculiarly crucial given the late explosion of another supplying ship , the Antares rocket , which hide the full load .
The supplies were contain in SpaceX ’s Dragon capsule , which was carried in the fomite ’s second stage . The first stage is around14 history talland incorporate the engines and the majority of the rocket ’s fuel . soon after lift - off , the two stagecoach separated and the cargo ship wasconfirmed in reach .
While the rocket managed to attain the target , which was an impressive feat to say the least , unfortunately it come down a little too severely . harmonize to Musk , the ship did n’t sustain too much damage and can be repaired ; however , the same can not be said for the rocket , which is now in pieces .
Because it was dark and muzzy , SpaceX was n’t able-bodied to obtain decent footage of the landing or the shock . However , it was laterrevealedthat the fins ran out of hydraulic fluid just before land . Undeterred by the failed attempt , SpaceX is already planning another landing experimentation next calendar month , which will have 50 % more hydraulic fluid .
The reason that SpaceX is attempting to land part of their Eruca vesicaria sativa is because it could ultimately save a lot of money . Traditionally , rocket engine are intended forone use onlyand after the payload is detach , the heavy engine and propellant are dump . The throwaway part then either bite up during reentry or smash into the ocean . SpaceX believes that if role can be recycled , costs will be cut off because each foreign mission will no longer require a firebrand new rocket .
“ If SpaceX is successful in reducing the cost by 50 % or more , more space applications become potential — more satellite , more benefits and services to society from space , for representative space solar mogul , and potentially more astronauts,”saidRocket Lab ’s director Dr. Adam Baker .
Not everyone is well-off with the approximation of using second - handwriting rocket engine , however , and some have pointed out that projectile engine are only creditworthy for abouta thirdof the total cost , meaning that with repairs and refurbishment , missions may not ultimately be much brassy .
[ ViaBBC News , National Geographic , PopSciandAssociated Press ]
