SpaceX founded back in 2002, has come a long way in a short time when it comes to paving the way for reusable and more responsive space launch vehicles. It currently has two different launch vehicles at its disposal the Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy. The Falcon 9 space launch vehicle is designed to be reusable. The Falcon 9 itself is a simple two-stage rocket that uses 9 first stage and one Merlin vacuum engines to power attached payloads to their appropriate operating orbit or transfer orbit. The outside of the rockets first and second stage is made of aluminum-lithium alloy to ensure durability so it can be used again. The Merlin engines use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellant for fuel and are capable of providing
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There are four variants of the BE rocket engines. These engines are capable of providing up to 550,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. The uniqueness with the Blue Origin engines is that its latest version the BE-4 uses Liquefied natural gas. This propellant is easily accessed, cheap, and highly efficient. “Unlike other rocket fuels, such as kerosene, liquefied natural gas can be used to pressurize a rocket’s propellant tanks. This is called autogenous pressurization and eliminates the need for costly and complex pressurization systems, like helium. Liquefied natural gas also leaves no soot byproducts as kerosene does, simplifying engine reuse.” Along with its highly efficient engines Blue Origin’s New Shepard will also be able to vertically land its first stage similar to how SpaceX does. The New Shepard launch vehicle does have some slight differences here as well. As it starts its descent back to the surface of the Earth the launch vehicle does a couple of things. First, four flaps open as air moves through the top ring as the rocket descends back to Earth. Next, four symmetrically placed fins open up to help with increased aerodynamic stability. In addition to these, the rocket also deploys eight drag breaks so to decrease the spacecrafts speed by half. Last, the rocket has four symmetrically place fins near the rockets engine that will help with …show more content…
The commercial space industry is going to need to be more involved in the development of a more reusable and responsive space launch system in the future because of predicted demand. It is estimated that over 2,000 space payloads will need to be launched in Earth, Lunar or deep space orbits between 2010-2029. Out of these payloads, sixty-two percent are expected to go to an LEO orbit making a reusable and responsive spacelift vehicle more important. In addition to the high demand for a reusable and responsive commercial space launch vehicle, there is also another reason to need one as well, and that is cost.
In today’s fiscal constrained environment, being able to save money anywhere is a bonus. For years, space launch has tried to close this gap and provide a cheaper, more affordable service to companies. A reusable space launch vehicle will do this. With companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin being able to re-coup the first stage with its engine intact and not fazed by the launch itself, they are able reduce launch cost to their
There are four variants of the BE rocket engines. These engines are capable of providing up to 550,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. The uniqueness with the Blue Origin engines is that its latest version the BE-4 uses Liquefied natural gas. This propellant is easily accessed, cheap, and highly efficient. “Unlike other rocket fuels, such as kerosene, liquefied natural gas can be used to pressurize a rocket’s propellant tanks. This is called autogenous pressurization and eliminates the need for costly and complex pressurization systems, like helium. Liquefied natural gas also leaves no soot byproducts as kerosene does, simplifying engine reuse.” Along with its highly efficient engines Blue Origin’s New Shepard will also be able to vertically land its first stage similar to how SpaceX does. The New Shepard launch vehicle does have some slight differences here as well. As it starts its descent back to the surface of the Earth the launch vehicle does a couple of things. First, four flaps open as air moves through the top ring as the rocket descends back to Earth. Next, four symmetrically placed fins open up to help with increased aerodynamic stability. In addition to these, the rocket also deploys eight drag breaks so to decrease the spacecrafts speed by half. Last, the rocket has four symmetrically place fins near the rockets engine that will help with …show more content…
The commercial space industry is going to need to be more involved in the development of a more reusable and responsive space launch system in the future because of predicted demand. It is estimated that over 2,000 space payloads will need to be launched in Earth, Lunar or deep space orbits between 2010-2029. Out of these payloads, sixty-two percent are expected to go to an LEO orbit making a reusable and responsive spacelift vehicle more important. In addition to the high demand for a reusable and responsive commercial space launch vehicle, there is also another reason to need one as well, and that is cost.
In today’s fiscal constrained environment, being able to save money anywhere is a bonus. For years, space launch has tried to close this gap and provide a cheaper, more affordable service to companies. A reusable space launch vehicle will do this. With companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin being able to re-coup the first stage with its engine intact and not fazed by the launch itself, they are able reduce launch cost to their