ISS resupply
Initially, the launch was scheduled for Saturday, but because of a problem with the upper stage engine steering hydraulic piston, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk decided to delay the launch by 24 hours. He tweeted that it's a 1% chance that something may go wrong and thus didn’t take the risk and waited another 24 hours. The latest Falcon 9 launch was a resupply mission to the ISS (International Space Station). The rocket lifted the Dragon capsule, which in this particular case was loaded with 5,500 lbs of supplies. The Dragon’s cargo includes a medical experiment on the immune system, an instrument to measure ozone, the Lighting imaging sensor and also an experimental spacecraft self-navigation system.
Historical launch
Kennedy Space Center was used by NASA in the late 1960s and early 1970s on the mission to the moon. The spaceport has a rich history, in 2011 NASA retired its fleet, but thanks to this successful launch the Kennedy Space Center is now back in the game for the endless adventure of space exploration. SpaceX has struggled to obtain the contracts with the US government for resupply missions, its main competitors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin lost $1.6bn in contracts. Elon Musk also makes contracts with private companies to deliver satellites into orbit. Elon Musk is an ambitious man, who has the mind, talent but also the money necessary to fulfill his dreams. Currently, he owns SpaceX, Tesla Inc and SolarCity, but his most ambitious dream is to colonize Mars.
Initially, the Mars mission was scheduled for 2018, but the SpaceX president, Gwynne Shotwell has announced that the launch was delayed and it is now scheduled for 2020.
Cheaper missions
Space exploration is an expensive business, and this is the main reason SpaceX has tried to cut costs by reusing the rocket booster. Until now, rocket boosters were crashed into the ocean and never reused.
By reusing the rocket booster Elon Musk has saved $62 million. This strategy is now attracting more and more clients all around the world because of the lower prices of putting satellites into orbit.The Falcon 9 took off from Kennedy Space Center at 9:39 AM and the rocket booster safely landed nine minutes later nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The Dragon capsule will arrive at the ISS on Tuesday and the docking will be made thanks to a robotic arm. The Florida launch pad damaged in the September explosion will be functional again by this summer if all goes well. With this new success, Elon Musk writes history by reusing the emblematical Kennedy Space Center.
