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
Why Starlink Users are Furious Over the Sudden New “In-Motion” Speed Caps
Starlink users are waking up to a frustrating surprise as the company abruptly disabled “in-motion” data for its popular $5 US monthly standby plan. The change, which rolled out without prior warning, effectively cuts off internet access for Starlink Mini users as soon as their vehicle exceeds 10 mph (16 km/h). For many American and […]
Japan’s au Launches World’s First Starlink Satellite Roaming in the U.S.
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular have officially launched international roaming for au Starlink Direct in the United States. This marks the first time in the world that direct satellite-to-smartphone communication has functioned across international borders. Au is the second-largest wireless carrier in Japan, operated by KDDI. The service allows travellers from Japan to maintain a connection […]
SpaceX Makes ‘Starlink Mobile’ Official as Subscriber Base Hits 10 Million
SpaceX has reached a major turning point at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona by officially rebranding its satellite-to-phone technology as Starlink Mobile. We first saw SpaceX trademark that name back in December and now we know why. During a keynote presentation (titled The Future of Satellite-to-Mobile with Starlink) on Monday, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell […]