SpaceX reusable launch system development program
| SpaceX reusable launch system development program | |
|---|---|
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|
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of project | Privately funded technology development |
| Products | Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Interplanetary Transport System |
| Location | Various |
| Owner | SpaceX |
| Founder | Elon Musk |
| Established | Publicly announced 2011 |
| Status | Active |
The SpaceX reusable launch system development program is a privately funded program to develop a set of new technologies for an orbital launch system that may be reused many times in a manner similar to the reusability of aircraft. The company SpaceX is developing the technologies over a number of years to facilitate full and rapid reusability of space launch vehicles. The project's long-term objectives include returning a launch vehicle first stage to the launch site in minutes and to return a second stage to the launch pad following orbital realignment with the launch site and atmospheric reentry in up to 24 hours. SpaceX's long term goal is that both stages of their orbital launch vehicle will be designed to allow reuse a few hours after return.
The program was publicly announced in 2011 and the design for returning the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket to its launchpad using only its own propulsion systems was completed in February 2012. SpaceX's active test program began in late 2012 with testing low-altitude, low-speed aspects of the landing technology. High-velocity, high-altitude aspects of the booster atmospheric return technology began testing in late 2013 and have continued through 2016. SpaceX first achieved a successful landing and recovery of a first stage in December 2015, but continues to do experimental tests on each orbital launch.
The reusable launch system technology was developed and initially used for the first stages of the Falcon family of rockets. The process involves flipping the booster around, a boostback burn to slow the rocket, a reentry burn, controlling direction to arrive at the landing site and a landing burn to effect the final low-altitude deceleration and touchdown. The reusable technology will be extended to the first stage and to both upper stages of the ITS launch vehicle for the Interplanetary Transport System and is considered paramount to the plans Elon Musk is championing to enable the settlement of Mars.
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