SpaceX – What is it and what does it do?
In simplest terms, SpaceX is a company that is focused on space exploration and it is founded and funded by well-known billionaire Elon Musk. The main intention of SpaceX is to provide transportation to orbit. This exciting and eventful project has a history of two decades. Already, several NASA astronauts were taken to orbit under this project. That is in addition to various other significant milestones achieved.
SpaceX, an innovative aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the intention of providing affordable transportation to orbit. The company has made impressive strides toward this goal over the last few years. As the world’s first private company to launch and recover a spacecraft from orbit, SpaceX has proven its worth not only as an innovator in aerospace technology but also as a leader in space travel services. Here’s a brief look at the history of SpaceX and how it has achieved what it has thus far.
The beginning of SpaceX
Back in 2002, Elon Musk had a visit to Russia with his friends for the purpose of buying a ballistic missile that is refurbished. His intention was to make some modifications to that intercontinental missile so he could send some mice or at least plants to Mars. Also, he wanted to bring them back. Although it triggered the interest in space exploration, Musk did not succeed in his Russian visit. So, he left Russia with the intention of building new rockets. He also wanted to undercut the launch contractors who were operating at that time. Well, SpaceX was launched after a couple of months and one of its main intentions is to send a manned ship to Mars.
Falcon 9 Rocket
At the beginning of project SpaceX, Musk wanted to send a manned ship to Mars by 2010. However, it took about 6 years to take one rocket into orbit. The first rocket that orbited Earth under SpaceX was named Falcon 1. That was back in 2008. Well, this triggered the idea of a rocket with nine engines and Falcon 9 is the name given to that powerful project.
Well, Falcon 9 is an orbital rocket. It is used by organizations and governments to launch satellites. Also, it was used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. On top of that, it is even used by the US Airforce for some of their long missions. That said, SpaceX recorded over 80 space missions with Falcon 9.
One of the most significant characteristics of Falcon 9 is its ability to take a payload to orbit and returning back to the earth. Also, it can land on solid ground or a floating landing pad (placed on the sea surface). It is true that Falcon 9 rockets had some failed attempts at the beginning. However, they were able to succeed at last.
The final version of the Falcon 9 range was launched back on May 11, 2018, and it was a Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket. This specific version is designed to launch up to 100 times along with intermittent refurbishments and improvements. Thereafter, several Falcon 9 boosters were launched in 2020.
There’s more to SpaceX Well, SpaceX is not limited take stuff to orbit or space. Instead, they plan to operate from space and connect us with the universe. As a result, they launched 60 satellites in 2019 and they were to work as a constellation that transmits data. This project is named Starlink and it is planned to have up to 42,000 satellites. This network will be able to provide the internet with massive speed. By providing that service, SpaceX expects to generate enough revenue to fund their expensive ultimate mission “colonizing Mars”.
