On St. Patrick’s Day, SpaceX hit a home run with not one but two successful orbital missions. The company launched 52 of its Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, followed by a Falcon 9 carrying the SES-18 and SES-19 telecommunications satellites to geostationary orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Both missions went smoothly with the satellites being deployed on schedule and the Falcon 9 first stages returning safely to Earth. With these two launches, SpaceX has already completed 18 and 19 missions this year, and CEO Elon Musk has hinted at a possible 100 more launch missions in 2023.
Important Details about SpaceX launches 2 rockets less than 5 hours apart –
– SpaceX successfully completed two separate missions on March 17th.
– The first mission involved launching 52 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
– The second mission involved launching the SES-18 and SES-19 telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
– Both missions went according to plan, and both Falcon 9 first stages safely touched down at sea on SpaceX droneships less than nine minutes after liftoff.
– The 52 Starlink satellites join over 3,700 other spacecraft in SpaceX’s broadband constellation, which could eventually include up to 42,000 satellites.
– The SES-18 and SES-19 satellites will provide digital broadcasting coverage to North America and aid in the rollout of 5G services in the United States.
– These were the 18th and 19th launches of the year for SpaceX, with the potential for up to 100 orbital missions in 2023.
SpaceX’s Doubleheader: Two Flawless Orbital Missions in a Day
SpaceX pulled off an impressive feat on St. Patrick’s Day 2023, scheduling and executing two orbital missions on the same day. The first mission, which launched at 3:26 p.m. EDT was SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites launch, carrying 52 of its satellites to orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Then, later in the evening, at 7:38 p.m. EDT, the second mission lifted off, attempting to carry the SES-18 and SES-19 telecommunications satellites to geostationary orbit from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Both the Starlink and SES missions went according to plan, with the satellites successfully delivered to their respective orbits. The Falcon 9 first stages from both missions also made a successful touchdown on SpaceX droneships just nine minutes after the liftoff, marking an impressive achievement for SpaceX.
The successful launches of both Starlink and SES-18&19 missions marked the eighth and sixth liftoff for their respective Falcon 9 rockets. With 2023 just a few months in, SpaceX has already launched 19 missions.
Starlink spacecraft, which has now joined over 3,700 other spacecraft in SpaceX’s large broadband constellation, continues to grow as Elon Musk’s company has the approval to deploy 12,000 Starlink in LEO. Additionally, SpaceX has applied for permission to launch 30,000 more satellites beyond the initially approved 12,000.
SES-18 and SES-19 were launched to a geostationary orbit, about 22,200 miles above the earth’s surface, from where they will provide North America with digital broadcasting coverage, facilitating the roll-out of 5G services in the US by SES.
The flawless and back-to-back launch of two missions on the same day further solidifies Musk’s claim to rocket reuse, which enhances the company’s cost competitiveness compared to other players in the rocket-launch industry. SpaceX plans to continue making use of reusable rockets in its forthcoming missions, with Musk suggesting that the company could launch up to a hundred orbital missions in 2023.
SpaceX’s ingenuity in enhancing the cost-effectiveness, safety, and timeliness of rocket operations is a significant accomplishment that has transformed the sector. It has resulted in increased competition among space commercialization players, governments, and institutions alike, which, in turn, has led to more innovation and cheaper space launches. In this article, we shall explore how SpaceX’s use of technology and innovation has transformed the spaceflight industry.
1. Reusable Rockets
One significant area where SpaceX has revolutionized the spaceflight industry is in the use of reusable rockets. Prior to SpaceX, rockets used for satellite launches were typically used and disposed of after one use, thus significantly increasing the cost of launching an orbital mission.
SpaceX’s rocket-recovery method has not only reduced the cost of launching space missions but has also increased the timeliness of launches. Traditionally, the lengthy process of designing, building, and launching a new rocket was a significant barrier to entry into the industry. However, the use of reusable rockets significantly reduced this barrier to entry, resulting in increased competition and innovation in the sector.
Currently, the landed booster accounts for almost 70% of the total cost for a SpaceX rocket launch, with the second-stage rocket, which is yet to be refurbished or re-used, accounting for the rest. Musk has stated that he intends to increase the number of times rockets can be reused from 10 times currently to 100 times per rocket, which would further enhance cost savings in rocket launches.
2. Vertical Landing of Rockets
Apart from reusable rockets, SpaceX created another innovation that has drastically improved the industry, the development of the technology of vertically landing rockets. The giant leap of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to reuse brought the world a powerful technology for the safe return of rockets to earth without breaking them in the process.
The technology made it possible for rockets to reverse rocket launch, land or hover near launch pads, and then land vertically, intact and reusable for future launches. The incredible technology increases the cost-effectiveness of space launches, as opposed to the traditional procedure of launching, ejecting, and losing the rocket hardware in space.
SpaceX’s vertical landing technology of Boosters has been used in 111 rocket launches, out of which 77 have already had their boosters returned in the vertical landing. The technology also made the Falcon 9 used for the Starlink and SES-18 and SES-19 missions recovered safely.
3. Spacecraft Recovery
SpaceX’s design for its Dragon spacecraft markers new era feasibility, such as the Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS). The spacecraft is generally launched for NASA deliveries to launch cargo and supply ships to the International Space Station (ISS). It has a reusable pressurized cargo section, which allows for the safe return to earth of payloads and samples.
SpaceX won funding from NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) in 2006 to develop a spacecraft that could lift payloads into orbit and return to Earth with cargo. The Dragon spacecraft achieved this goal on April 20, 2012, becoming the first commercial spacecraft to resupply the ISS.
The spacecraft boasts a unique set of inflatable airbags, allowing the capsule to be reused in multiple missions, reducing the costs of launching each capsule. SpaceX has received praise from NASA and other industry players for its dedication to making progress in commercial space innovation and cutting the cost of the commercialization of space no matter the challenges.
4. Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
In contrast with traditional rocket launches, SpaceX is currently working on and developing Starship, a heavy-lift launch vehicle that will transform the commercialization of space in ways that were once unimaginable. Its size and capabilities will revolutionize space exploration and change the way commercial space missions are done.
Currently, analysts estimate that SpaceX can deploy up to six to eight times more massive payloads than their closest competitors. The hefty payloads will give companies that put payloads into orbit an extra edge as they can now launch significantly larger payloads, such as satellites and space vehicles, on a single rocket, ultimately reducing the cost of delivery.
Starship, SpaceX’s heavy-lift vehicle, is also capable of long-duration, deep-space missions to Mars, the moon, and other celestial bodies. The concept is ambitious and if built and implemented, the technology will go a long way in opening up space