On 22 Dec 2015, at 15:31, Hilaire <hilaire@drgeo.eu> wrote:

Le 22/12/2015 14:02, Sven Van Caekenberghe a écrit :

...

This is a really great achievement: SpaceX successfully launched a rocket and deployed 11 satellites after failing earlier this year. But best of all, they landed the first stage back on earth! Consider the actual physics involved, mind boggling.

http://www.wired.com/2015/12/spacex-just-landed-rocket-ground-first-time/

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/12/by-making-a-historic-landing-spacex-l...

Sven

It is a nice achievement indeed. However not sure it is a good idea on the long term. The main idea behind the Space shuttle was planed to be cheaper with reusable components: it proves to be both more expensive and less safe. Time will tell us.

Yes, you are right, they still have to prove they can safely and economically reuse them. But each time throwing away the main stage including a bunch of very expensive rocket engines is not very scaleable either. And agreed, the Space Shuttle's cost/performance is hard to judge, still they flew 135 missions using 4/5 vehicles, making important things possible in space. But it sadly enough did not end well. It is fair to say that space is pretty hard.

Hilaire

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