CAJ #9: Developments in Technology

SpaceX

Elon Musk, cofounder of PayPal, is the CEO and chief designer of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, abbreviated SpaceX, which is a space transport services company that manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX designs was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling people to live on other planets. They mainly support the enabling of the colonization of Mars by humans. As for now, the company has developed several orbital launch vehicles: Falcon 1, Falcon 9, which is currently in active use, and Falcon Heavy, which is under development.

Falcon 1

The company has developed its first launch vehicle - Falcon 1 - and three rocket engines - Merlin, Kestrel, and Draco - completely with private capital. Falcon 1, which has already been retired by SpaceX, was the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit. It was a small rocket capable of placing several hundred kilograms into low earth orbit. IIt functioned as an early test-bed for developing concepts and components for the larger Falcon 9.

Falcon 9

Falcon 9 was the second launch vehicle to be designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Falcon 9, along with the Dragon spacecraft, was designed from the beginning to be reusable. One of the originally goals was to deliver humans into space. Under an agreement with NASA, SpaceX is actively working toward that goal. With its special care for details in manufacturing, it is capable of landing with the precision of a helicopter. Falcon 9 is known as the first rocket completely developed in the 21 century. It is 68,4 meters tall and has a simple two-stage configuration with nine first-stage engines, which means that it can safely complete its mission even in the event of an engine shutdown. By delivering Dragon into the correct orbit in 2012, Falcon 9 made SpaceX the first commercial company ever to visit the station. Since then SpaceX has made a total of three flights to the space station, both delivering and returning cargo for NASA.

Falcon’s ninth, and latest, consecutive flight was on April 18, 2014. SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to orbit, carrying supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station.

Dragon Spacecraft

Dragon is a free-flying spacecraft designed to deliver both cargo and people to orbiting destinations. Dragon made history in 2012 when it became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station and safely return cargo to Earth. It is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth. Although Dragon is currently delivering just cargo to space, it was originally designed to carry humans. SpaceX is now working on the refinements that will enable Dragon to fly crew. The first manned test flight is expected to take place in 2-3 years.

Falcon Heavy

Falcon Heavy is the world’s most powerful rocket - a launch vehicle of scale and capability unequaled by any other currently flying. This powerful rocket was designed to be fully reusable. Falcon Heavy consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, to which two additional Falcon 9 first stages are added as strap-on boosters – this will increase the low Earth orbit (LEO) payload. With the ability to lift into orbit over 53 metric tons (which would correspond a mass equivalent to a big jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel) Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy, at one-third the cost. Falcon Heavy draws upon the design of Falcon 9 with a maximized reliability. Falcon Heavy was designed from the outset to carry humans into space and restores the possibility of flying missions with crew to the Moon or Mars.

Historic achievements by SpaceX:

• the first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket, Falcon 1, to reach orbit (28 September 2008);
• the first privately funded company to successfully launch, by Falcon 9, orbit and recover a spacecraft (Dragon) (9 December 2010);
• the first private company to send a spacecraft (Dragon) to the International Space Station (25 May 2012);
• and the first private company to send a satellite into geosynchronous orbit (3 December 2013).