In many ways, Friday’s planned launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 seems pretty ordinary, as far as these things go. It’s a geostationary communications satellite, this one intended to carry broadcast and internet service for Bangledesh and the surrounding area. And the launch vehicle is SpaceX Falcon 9—in its 65th appearance. So … so what?
But what makes this launch special is that this Falcon 9 is, in many ways, a whole new launcher. SpaceX has been running their booster through iterations that are more familiar in the software business than with space vehicles. Previous versions of the Falcon 9 were reusable, but only after a significant amount of work and retrofitting of components that were destroyed or damaged during recovery. None of those previous versions ever went to space more than twice, and it’s an open question whether the second flight was actually cheaper than the first.
But the new Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 has benefited from everything SpaceX has learned building and flying earlier versions. It carries 30 percent more to orbit. From its engine shields to its landing fins, it’s been strengthened. Parts that were welded together previously are now connected in ways that make them easy to replace. Parts that simply burned up before are now built out of materials like titanium to better withstand heat and vibration.
The goal is to produce a booster that can be reused not just twice, but 100 times. That goal is likely too ambitious, but if SpaceX can get a reliable 10 flights of out its newest version, it will have a dramatic impact on its cost of delivering goods to orbit. It will also have a big impact on SpaceX as a company. The engineering team has already begun work on the bigger, even more reusable BFR. But they need more staff, and they hope to get that staff by taking the folks who have been tasked until now with redesigning, and then redesigning, and redesigning the Falcon 9. After all, these are the people who have the most experience in building a rocket that can take it. The BFR team needs them, and a smooth flight today will speed the transition to building the BFR.
If the Bangabandhu flight goes off today, and the first Falcon 9 Block 5 both sticks the landing and demonstrates the kind of ruggedness SpaceX has suggested, it will genuinely be a new era in space flight. SpaceX has even suggested that they could be able to turn around a Block 5 booster in 48 hours. A single booster capable of making two or three flights in a week for little more than the cost of the fuel would be a massive disruption of space technology.
And the result of this flight will give a good idea if they can pull it off.
Come inside to watch the flight.
Friday, May 11, 2018 · 8:27:12 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
The first Falcon 9 Block 5 has carried its payload to orbit, with Bangabandhu getting ready to begin the trip to GSO shortly. In the meantime, the booster has made a successful landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You. This is the 25th recovered booster, and it still seems like magic every time.