SpaceX gets taker for 1st flight of recycled rocket

Musk sees reusable rockets as the best way to make accessing space easier and cheaper.

“Having been the first commercial satellite operator to launch with SpaceX back in 2013, we are excited to once again be the first customer to launch on SpaceX’s first ever mission using a flight-proven rocket”, said Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer at Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, today in a press release.

The 5.3-ton SES-10 satellite is projected to offer video, broadband, and mobile-phone service, like in-flight and maritime connectivity, to various places, including Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. “SES has been a strong supporter of SpaceX’s approach to reusability over the years and we’re delighted that the first launch on a flight-proven rocket will carry SES-10”.

In fact, SES has a history of placing their trust in SpaceX.

Launching something into orbit more than 200 miles above Earth at 17,500 mph requires hundreds of times more energy than Blue Origin’s current New Shepherd rocket system, Musk has said. In all, it has launched and landed six rockets-four at sea and two on dry land. In April, the closely held company nailed a much harder landing on a drone ship floating in the Atlantic Ocean.

Traditionally, rockets have been considered one-and-done sunk costs.

“It will also give us more vehicles”. Before launch, the booster will undergo a static test fire.

At SES we are shaping new ecosystems and laying the groundwork for new foundations.

SpaceX has tried to develop a far more practical model of fly-again rockets. The goal is to routinely recover, refurbish and relaunch booster stages to dramatically lower launch costs.

While SpaceX has become famous for its reusable rockets, Blue Origin, owned by Amazon.com found Jeff Bezos, was the first contemporary rocket company to launch, land, and then reuse a rocket booster.

SpaceX’sShotwell said in a statement that the re-launch of a rocket that has already ferried a spacecraft to orbit was a significant milestone in the direction of complete and fast reusability. I imagine the rocket being used underwent absurd testing to make sure it is good to go.

In the meantime, SpaceX engineers are hustling to get ready for the September 3rd launch of the Amos 6 communications satellite.

Mr Halliwell said SpaceX was offering SES a discount on the normal price of a Falcon 9, but that insurers had made no “material change” to the premium being asked to cover the mission.

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