For decades, rocket boosters, which are the most powerful and expensive element of rockets, were discarded into the sea after launch. But the new plan is to develop boosters which launch vertically, then fly autonomously back to Earth for reuse.
The success rate of this plan could reduce the cost of the space flight dramatically, making the goal of space travel a real thing. Blue Origin’s double success rate has now fuelled a new Cold War-esque space war, but this time between Musk and Bezos.
In a blog post, Bezos explained how each successful flight was making the next launch and land easier:
Data from that flight “made preparations for [Friday’s] re-flight relatively straightforward.” Friday’s landing had a significant software update that would further improve the autonomous landings, he wrote. The vehicle will still aim for the center of the landing site, but if it gets pushed slightly off course, the software would allow it to land “at a position of convenience” instead of forcing a correction that could ultimately doom the landing.
It’s like a pilot lining up a plane with the centerline of the runway. If the plane is a few feet off center as you get close, you don’t swerve at the last minute to ensure hitting the exact midpoint. You just land a few feet left or right of the centerline.
Already three years in development, Bezos’ team is building much larger rockets including an orbital vehicle. Landing bigger rockets will ultimately be easier as their size increases stability:
Try balancing a pencil on the tip of your finger. Now try it with a broomstick. The broomstick is simpler because its greater moment of inertia makes it easier to balance. … And since New Shepard is the smallest booster we will ever build, this carefully choreographed dance atop our plume will just get easier from here.
Musk’s SpaceX team launched its Falcon 9 rocket on an orbital mission and then landed the first stage of the larger more powerful rocket. Earlier this month, SpaceX then ‘refired’ the engines proving its reuse.
And so the race continues.
[source: washingtonpost]
