Off Topic > Engineering
Dragon capsule scheduled for 2nd flight.
Nemesis:
Link to full article
--- Quote ---SpaceX took a big step toward a fully reusable launch system earlier this year by re-flying a used Falcon 9 booster, and it is making progress toward eventually recovering the rocket's upper stage and payload fairing. Now, the company is set to try to recover another key component of its space hardware—a Dragon cargo spacecraft. The launch window for the supply mission opens on Thursday, June 1, at 5:55pm ET (10:55pm BST).
This particular Dragon spacecraft was sent to the International Space Station in September 2014, and it delivered nearly 2.5 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory. The Dragon returned to Earth about a month later, splashing down into the ocean. It is not clear how much processing SpaceX has had to undertake to ready the spacecraft for its second flight to the station, nor has the company released a cost estimate. It also had to manufacture a new "trunk," the unpressurized rear section of the vehicle, and solar panels.
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Nemesis:
It has gone up. Still has to return.
Nemesis:
Consider the cost savings. Reusable 1st stage. Reusable capsule. Both done.
Planned. Reusable cargo fairing. Reusable 2nd stage.
For the first stage he claims they can make it work with a 24 hour turnaround time. 10 trips between refurbishing and a 100 trip life span. If he can achieve this just for the 1st stage the savings for orbital missions would be enormous. If for all the components I mentioned it should make SpaceX the company that makes it possible to industrialize and commercialize space. The true beginnings of a Space age.
If he can do the same with the proposed ICT? He will go down in history side by side with Columbus, even if he never travels in space himself.
NJAntman:
Fun watching how they got this far...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvim4rsNHkQ
Javora:
Unscheduled Rapid Disassembley... :laugh:
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