REUSABLE Rockets

On entering atmosphere after a space journey what is the best way to land safely for a non-winged spacecraft? It is to deploy a parachute to take it down slowly to the ground for touch down. Could there be any other method of a sensible landing better than this? You will surely say no. But Elon Musk will prove you wrong if you say so.


SpaceX's co-founder Elon Musk at the National Press Club, New York on Thursday reported in his announcement that SpaceX does not need such method, i.e., it may not follow the conventional method.

But how does SpaceX think of doing this?
First when the rocket is launched, the rocket gets separated into two parts as shown in the following picture:

Breaking into TWO

The parts can use their own fuel for propelling themselves and landing as shown in the following picture:

Two parts Landing

You may watch this animated video for more clarification:

Thus with this technology rockets can be made 100% reusable in the future. It also has a launch escape system which distinguishes it from a manned spacecraft. This launch escape system can carry the crew capsule in case of an accident during lift off. The Dragon capsule would use small motors, directly attached to the capsule which will allow it to land safely on any planet without parachutes also.

But it seems odd because the extra fuel required for the launching would cost more than a single parachute. But surely it is going to decrease the wastage of large number of rockets.

As Moon and Mars missions have been planned by NASA for decades, we can see active signs of a deep space exploration. Let us just wait and watch what this can do for us in the future. With hopes of great achievements, I wish the SpaceX team BEST OF LUCK for DRAGON capsule.

[via Space.com]

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