Catching SpaceX is becoming less and less real
SpaceX is ready to make another breakthrough in Technology reusable launch vehicles, making this technology truly cost-effective.
So far, the return of the rocket stages to Earth has not been as profitable as it might seem at first glance. After each such launch, a thorough check of each part of the stage and the replacement of parts are required, which requires significant financial investment, primarily on an impressive team of specialists conducting this work. In addition, the step returned to Earth still has a certain resource, and for the stages already used, this resource amounted to no more than two additional launches. All these events could delay the next launch for many months.
However, the very idea of such savings is still promising and SpaceX with its latest overclocking unit Block 5 is ready to transfer it to a qualitatively different level. The new acceleration unit received more powerful Merlin engines, providing traction of 8130 kN, compared to 7600 kN for the old model, and the engines themselves now became more accessible during maintenance. In addition, Merlin has thermal protection to prevent overheating, and new titanium lattice stabilizers will no longer ignite when the step returns to Earth. All these innovations will reduce the interval between launches to 2 days.
According to Elon Musk, Falcon 9 missiles equipped with Block 5 will be able to withstand up to 100 launches without significant maintenance costs, although SpaceX's vice president of production Andy Lambert said a much more modest figure of 10 launches. In any case, even the possibility of 10 re-uses of one stage will allow the company to save very tangible funds.
The launch of the Falcon 9 with a new overclocking unit was scheduled for May 10, but was canceled a minute before the start. Representatives of the company called "automatic shutdown of the ground system" as a reason.
So far, the return of the rocket stages to Earth has not been as profitable as it might seem at first glance. After each such launch, a thorough check of each part of the stage and the replacement of parts are required, which requires significant financial investment, primarily on an impressive team of specialists conducting this work. In addition, the step returned to Earth still has a certain resource, and for the stages already used, this resource amounted to no more than two additional launches. All these events could delay the next launch for many months.
However, the very idea of such savings is still promising and SpaceX with its latest overclocking unit Block 5 is ready to transfer it to a qualitatively different level. The new acceleration unit received more powerful Merlin engines, providing traction of 8130 kN, compared to 7600 kN for the old model, and the engines themselves now became more accessible during maintenance. In addition, Merlin has thermal protection to prevent overheating, and new titanium lattice stabilizers will no longer ignite when the step returns to Earth. All these innovations will reduce the interval between launches to 2 days.
According to Elon Musk, Falcon 9 missiles equipped with Block 5 will be able to withstand up to 100 launches without significant maintenance costs, although SpaceX's vice president of production Andy Lambert said a much more modest figure of 10 launches. In any case, even the possibility of 10 re-uses of one stage will allow the company to save very tangible funds.
The launch of the Falcon 9 with a new overclocking unit was scheduled for May 10, but was canceled a minute before the start. Representatives of the company called "automatic shutdown of the ground system" as a reason.
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