Skip to Content
Space

SpaceX has entered a new stage of reusability

July 23, 2018

The rocket company will now be attempting to land and reuse all the rockets it launches.

Over the weekend … SpaceX launched and landed its second Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The landing of this rocket, designed with reusability in mind, marks the beginning of a completely recyclable era of rockets for the company.

Special delivery: Onboard the rocket was the Telstar 19 Vantage satellite, which SpaceX launched into orbit for the Canadian satellite operator.

It’s just rocket science: The Block 4, the company’s earlier rocket, was designed to be used only a few times. The Block 5 can be used hundreds of times if recovered successfully. Now that the company has fully transitioned to this more reusable model, rocket recovery will be an even more crucial part of the launch. In a two-week period, the company is planning five recoveries.

What’s next: The Block 5 is undergoing upgrades that will add helium tanks to the launch vehicle. This upgraded version is what SpaceX plans to use to launch humans to the International Space Station. Once the alterations are complete, seven test flights will take place before astronauts can hitch a ride. And while SpaceX is taking strides toward crewed spaceflight, its competitor Boeing is hitting some setbacks.

This story first appeared in our daily tech newsletter, The Download. Sign up here.

Deep Dive

Space

How to safely watch and photograph the total solar eclipse

The solar eclipse this Monday, April 8, will be visible to millions. Here’s how to make the most of your experience.

How scientists are using quantum squeezing to push the limits of their sensors

Fuzziness may rule the quantum realm, but it can be manipulated to our advantage.

The race to fix space-weather forecasting before next big solar storm hits

Solar activity can knock satellites off track, raising the risk of collisions. Scientists are hoping improved atmospheric models will help.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.