{"id":337081,"date":"2017-03-29T21:30:27","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T13:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1470224"},"modified":"2017-03-29T21:30:27","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T13:30:27","slug":"spacex-will-try-to-make-history-with-its-first-reused-rocket-launch-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/spacex-will-try-to-make-history-with-its-first-reused-rocket-launch-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX will try to make history with its first reused rocket launch this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

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SpaceX is set to launch its next Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, March 30 for SES-10, a mission for a private communications satellite company. This is different from every Falcon 9 launch that has preceded it, because the rocket SpaceX is using has already flown once before \u2013 on April 8 last year, when it was the first of the company\u2019s rockets to nail a landing at sea on a floating drone barge repurposed as a mobile landing pad.<\/p>\n

The reuse of one of its rockets is a huge milestone for SpaceX, one that will basically prove the viability of the business strategy underpinning its very existence, and have a huge impact on the overall direction of the private space industry. SpaceX\u2019s entire concept is centred around reusable rocketry, which is a key ingredient in helping it lower the cost of its launches over time. Reusability will make possible the necessary financial realities outlined by Elon Musk last year when he described SpaceX\u2019s plan to get to Mars, and will help the company continue to undercut competitors for commercial launches while still making money in the process.<\/p>\n

There are some caveats to what exactly SpaceX is doing in terms of \u201cfirsts.\u201d Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin has already reused rockets, for instance, but it has only done so with suborbital flights, and even then only for testing purposes. SpaceX will be launching a\u00a0payload into orbit, and it will be doing so for a commercial, paying customer during an active mission. NASA, too, has recused rocket boosters for launching shuttles in the past, but these used solid boosters instead of ones with liquid fuel, and costs ended up being prohibitive regardless.<\/p>\n

SpaceX thinks it can make the math work in its favor in terms of the costs of refurbishing and redeploying rockets, and that could eventually lead to a discount for customers willing to take advantage of \u2018pre-loved\u2019 rockets. But all of the positive economics and long-term benefits of rocket re-use come later \u2013 first, SpaceX has to get the first one successfully off the ground and back into space.<\/p>\n

The launch is currently set for March 30, with a launch window opening at 6:27 PM EDT (3:27 PM PTD). We\u2019ll be watching and covering live, so tune in to see how this Falcon 9 fares on its historic second kick at the orbital can.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" SpaceX is set to launch its next Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, March 30 for SES-10, a mission for a private communications satellite company. This is different from every Falcon 9 launch that has preceded it, because the rocket SpaceX is using has already flown once before – on April 8 last year, when it was the first of the company’s rockets to nail a landing at sea on a floating… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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