Space X Caught a Rocket in the Sky!
If you've been living under a rock - which is likely since the US just got through with a major political season (seriously, make sure you disconnect from media often.) - Space X had an amazing achievement! A video, that you can watch now[1], shows the structure aptly named: "Chopsticks" catching a rocket descending from the sky!
Regardless how one may feel about Space X, or associated figures such as Elon Musk, this achievement is massive! It's another small step for rocket science, and one large leap for reusable - and safer - rocket launch and retrievals.
In case this isn't as descriptive on the potential - Space X has been constantly seeking means to lower the impact costs for flights. While there's still a massive sink in terms of fuel and even the conversations around eco-impact due to the emissions, the small step previously mentioned is lowering the cost and use of resources if the actual rocket itself isn't destroyed.
You may recall in the past, Space X worked on rockets that could descend and land itself - but a few rockets would tilt over and collapse on the landing. Well this is another step in trying to retain said rockets, and their material, on an even larger scale. Thus making launches and missions more cost effective.
I don't know about you guys - but with NASA constantly being left out of the nation's wallet...:
Starship, The Super Heavy Rocket
To Infinity, and Beyond!
The rocket itself, Starship[2], is a two-stage "super heavy" rocket designed for reusability. As to date it's still under development, though I'd say it's progressing incredibly well since the test launch. Kitted out with Raptor Engines - which are full-flow combustion engines. As previously mentioned, some of the critiques still levied at Space X rockets is the eco-impact through what fuels these rockets: liquid oxygen and natural gas, mainly liquid methane.
I'm not here to greenwash and complain though - impressive progress now can lead to better focus on fuel and energy for propulsion later on. Especially if that means Starship could once again bring us to the moon, and potentially Mars! Then we can really have factual stories of astronauts farming potatoes with their own poop! (If you're not aware, the Book and Movie "The Martian" is NOT based on a real story. Sorry to say if you thought so.)
With a project that has so far cost more than $5 Billion USD, with each launch costing $100 Million USD[3], I'm looking forward to Starship being completed and set to be used for actual missions.
Later, Space Cowboy...
(this is a Cowboy Bebop reference)
[1] BBC
[2] Space X
Jack Kuhr
[3] Payload Space
