Fairing plays a huge role in rocket launches. Acting as a two-piece protective layer, SpaceX has designed two fairing halves with special netting to catch them when they fall. Without any programming beforehand, fairing halves use a parachute to slow them down. Ships must be positioned correctly to catch these.
SpaceX finally managed to catch both fairing halves of a Falcon 9 rocket launch today. CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk made an exciting announcement on Twitter:
For all previous launches, recovery attempts for catching both fairing halves remained unsuccessful. Only a single half was retrieved back in June 2019, and once more in January 2020.
In addition to re-using old components, managing to catch both fairing halves can save up to $6 million. As reported by Techcrunch, Elon Musk also has plans to “capture Crew Dragon capsules as they return to Earth”. This would prove to be a safe option once the fairing system is perfected.
Other articles in the category: SpaceX
SpaceX Hits New Milestone: 600th Falcon 9 Flight Launches
SpaceX has officially hit another jaw-dropping milestone. On Saturday, February 14, at 5:59 p.m. PT/8:59 p.m. ET, the company launched 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit aboard its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Florida. The mission marked the 600th Falcon 9 launch to date […]
Starlink Just Got the Green Light to Launch in Vietnam
SpaceX is expanding its global internet footprint once again. The company’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has officially received approval to begin operations in Vietnam, marking another key milestone in its rapid international rollout. According to Reuters, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology has granted Starlink’s local unit a license to provide both fixed and mobile […]
No More Waiting: Starlink Just Ended All Waitlists Worldwide
Starlink just eliminated one of the biggest friction points for would-be customers: the waitlist. In a post on X, the company announced, “No more waiting for high-speed internet! We have removed waitlists for Starlink in every country where Starlink is available today.” That’s a major shift for the satellite internet provider, which for years had […]
