SpaceX’S new rockeT BreakS recordS
The latest Falcon 9 model, the Block 5, has recently undergone its first of many spaceflights
The 11 May 2018 was not just the launch of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite, it also marked a memorable day for SpaceX, and could prove to be a milestone in their continuation to create sustainable spaceflight. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Block 5 is the new-and-improved model, and the private space company has gone as far as to say that this rocket is capable of at least ten blast-offs into earth orbit. By taking into account all its failures, elon Musk and SpaceX have created a rocket that would be remarkable for rapid reusability while maintaining an exceedingly good standard of reliability with each and every launch.
Bangladesh’s first geostationary communication satellite sat on top of a rocket that has learned from its predecessors’ mistakes. For instance, in September 2016 a Falcon 9 was scheduled to launch amos-6, a communications satellite for the Israeli-based company Spacecom. However, during the routine engine test just two days before launch, the Falcon 9 rocket and amos-6 exploded in an incredible fireball. The source of the trouble was the composite overwrapped pressure Vessels, or copVs. These vessels store helium to pressurise the propellant tanks in the launcher’s second stage, and in the case of this explosion, the liquid oxygen in the upper-stage tank got trapped between the copV’s overwrap and liner before catching fire. The ignition was most probably caused by friction, but there could have been from other mechanisms in play, but the result ended in disappointment.
To improve on this, Musk and his team put a lot of work into redesigning the pressure vessels. "This is by far the most advanced pressure vessel ever developed by humanity," said Musk at a recent briefing with reporters prior to the Falcon 9 Block 5 launch. "It's nuts. I've personally gone over the design; I can't count how many times. The top engineering minds at SpaceX have agonised over this… I think we are in a good situation."
despite the fact it is named ‘Block 5’, this is the sixth instalment of the Falcon 9 series. This rocket is much more powerful than its original model while also promoting revolutionary reusability. In comparison to the original model that launched in 2010, Block 5 is roughly twice as powerful, with each of the nine Merlin engines providing a thrust at sea level of 190,000 pound-force, while the single vacuum-optimised Merlin engine on its second stage contributed 220,000 pound-force.
during the briefing prior to Block 5’s launch, Musk also emphasised how its new design will now make it capable of at least ten flights, if not more. with no refurbishment between flights, all that is needed is to gas up the tank again and it is good to go. But will there be a Falcon 9 Block 6? The answer to that question is no. Musk made it clear that although there might be some minor improvements, the Block 5 will be the final platform, allowing them to devote more time to other projects. projects that could possibly take us to Mars, perhaps?