Just when you wondered whether they could achieve something monumental again….they did!!
SpaceX have flown a re-used rocket successfully for the very first time. This enormously significant milestone is the beginning of sustainability in spaceflight and truly disrupts the launch market. For years now, the pioneering space company has been working on how to bring a rocket back to Earth, which they have achieved on several occasions. Now, the first re-conditioned rocket has been put to use again, placing the SES-10 satellite into orbit. The Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported the CRS-8 mission in April 2016.
Once the satellite was injected into orbit, the Falcon 9 first stage was safely returned to Earth, landing on SpaceX’s droneship, “Of Course I Still Love You”.
This promises to transform the economies of space. Re-usability is key to bringing down the cost of future launches and makes the concept of colonies on the moon and on Mars realistic. It spells the start of a new era in launch and in space technology development. Elon Musk, following the launch, did say that the discount on a used Falcon 9 would be ‘meaningful’. This is sure to act as a catalyst for the already booming satellite industry, as the barriers to space are lowered further.
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Over the past week
SpaceWatch Middle East reported on a number of exciting space & cyber developments throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Among the stories that caught our attention were:
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In the meantime, follow our hashtag #SpaceWatchMe on Twitter, Instagram and our Facebook page, and read our stories, features, and interviews at
www.spacewatchme.com. Amongst the other features and stories we published over the past week are the following:
