News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on SpaceX Picks Rocket for First Relaunch. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX Picks Rocket for First Relaunch by pipio21 on Monday July 18, 2016 @04:38AM (#12113871)
As nobody has done it before I believe they are going to spend as much or probably more in refurbishing the old stage than building from scratch.

As an engineer you get a lot of know how just doing something. The first time I used a CAD program professionally it took me like 10 times more effort and time than what it takes me now. Now is second nature.

Nobody knows what it takes to relaunch a rocket. The exciting news is that they will discover it. In the end it will be way cheaper.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX Picks Rocket for First Relaunch by Gravityloss on Monday July 18, 2016 @10:38AM (#12115261)
Space shuttle engines have flown all the way to orbit multiple times. However the technology was a bit different. Also see x-17 and dc-x which did multiple rocket powered flights, or all the way back to Me-163 Komet.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX Picks Rocket for First Relaunch by grkvlt on Monday July 18, 2016 @02:07PM (#12116944)
> Nobody knows what it takes to relaunch a rocket

Well, apart from Blue Origin, I guess. They've done four sub-orbital missions now, with their production hardware. I know there are differences, but it's a similar problem-space, so they are an existence proof that it's possible.

[ Parent | on HN ]