SpaceX launches Block 4 Falcon into space: The final goal

New Delhi : SpaceX is speedily moving toward accomplishing the final goal of rapid reusability by flying a single booster twice within a 24-hour time period. On June 29, at 5:42 am EDT, SpaceX will send its final Block 4 Falcon into space, completing its 15th mission to resupply the International Space Station. Certainly, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX will achieve fruitful returns, later this year.

SpaceX each booster is capable of flying two or three time, but if SpaceX wants to meet its ultimate goal of flying daily, it needs work on it even better. So with 36 flights under its belt, let’s bid farewell to the moderately reusable Falcons of yesterday and say hello to the more capable and reusable Block 5. 

SpaceX officially named the booster as B1045 and it is not only the last one of its kind to fly but also the last to be commissioned. Built for NASA, the booster last carried the TESS mission, which was launched in April, before sticking its landing on the company's drone ship standing in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX B1045 is ready for its next and final mission, in record time. Generally, the amount of time between booster flights launch has been several months but this time, it took just two. Following several weeks of checkouts and refurbishments, B1045 trekked out to Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a routine static fire, essentially a dress rehearsal. Engineers protected the rocket on the pad, loaded it with fuel, and fired the engines for several seconds to ensure that it’s ready for launch.

Talking about the previous two Falcon 9 missions, B1045 did not attempt a safe landing, instead splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. But its downfall opens up opportunities for a new generation, the Block 5 Falcon, which first took flight in May. Elon Musk says that we will see a Block 5 launch, land, and re-launch within the same day sometime this year. The Block 5 is the result of more than 10 years of development. It is designed to re-fly with no action taken between flights, just like commercial airplanes.

SpaceX has plans to use the Block 5 in future Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as to launch astronauts to the space station. However, in order to achieve that target, it has to meet NASA’s requirements, which include flying at least seven times without any design changes.