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Reusable Launch System: the Gateway to the Future of Space Travel

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Reusable Launch System: the Gateway to the Future of Space Travel Session C8 Paper #8226 Disclaimer—This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk. REUSABLE LAUNCH SYSTEM: THE GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL Henry Adrian, [email protected], Mandala 10:00, William Hyman, [email protected], Mandala 10:00 Abstract—In the past, nearly every part of a rocket used to can take place. Elon Musk’s space transportation company, propel shuttles and satellites into orbit has been designed for SpaceX, aims to satisfy both of these issues so that space one time usage. Generally, after the first stage rocket (which exploration can be done more efficiently and quickly with the amounts to 70% of the total cost of a rocket) is used, the rocket innovation of reusable rockets, specifically, the Falcon 9 falls back to the Earth’s surface, burning up in the atmosphere rocket. and being destroyed. The reusable rocket is an attempt to resolve this dilemma. SpaceX, the leading company pursuing the technology of reusable rockets, has successfully developed rockets capable of multiple launches. Being able to reuse a rocket is a daunting task that requires multiple processes. The following processes have been used by SpaceX to land its relaunched rockets: stage separation, boost-back burn, supersonic retropropulsion burn, landing burn, touchdown and recovery. After landing, the rockets undergo an inspection and then are ready for relaunch. While this is still a relatively new technology and process, the benefits of reusable rockets are apparent: time, money, and materials are dramatically conserved. By conserving these valuable resources, reusable rockets prove to be a sustainable option for space exploration. This sustainable technology will facilitate greater space access, allowing a deeper understanding of the universe. There is much to be gained from increased space exploration Figure 1 [2] including the obtainment of materials, the development of new Space X’s Falcon 9 Rocket technologies and possible colonization of other celestial bodies such as Mars The key to this reusable launch system is the ability for the first stage rockets to land themselves at a target Key Words—Elon Musk, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Reusable location. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, pictured above in Figure Rockets, SpaceX 1 has been tested with a multitude of successful launch and landing attempts after engineers at Space X learned and THE NEED FOR REUSABLE ROCKETS developed new ideas through past failures. The successful landing process for Falcon 9 is achieved by following a series of intricate processes that allow the vessel to properly land With good reason, the human race has always been itself on target. The chronological order of descent processes fascinated by space [1]. We long to seek out what space has is: stage separation, boost-back burn, supersonic to offer and what can be gained from traversing the retropropulsion burn, landing burn, touchdown, and recovery. universe. Space exploration leads to the development and use By following these steps, the Falcon 9 is able to be recovered of new ideas, materials, and future possibilities. The and reused for future missions. knowledge gained through space exploration and research can This new mode of space transport takes advantage of be integrated into many industries and areas of study, leaving technology that enables the recovery and relaunch of the first many experts agreeing that it is worth both the money and the stage rocket boosters. With only the costs of inspection and risk [1]. refueling, these rockets can save up to 70% of the total launch In order to benefit from all space has to offer, one idea is cost as compared to traditional, one-time-use rockets [3]. The key: we must first be able to get to space. Furthermore, we benefits to using these rockets allow for a higher launch need to minimize the cost of entering and exiting the frequency and a dramatically reduced cost of money, atmosphere while increasing the frequency at which launches University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1 3.30.2018 Henry Adrian William Hyman resources, and energy This will allow the rate at which we can the rocket moving skyward from launch. As P. Timm, in the access and discover space to be dramatically accelerated. article “Stages of a Rocket Launch” explains, once the rocket A key aspect to this innovation is its sustainable nature. has reached a specific height, generally somewhere between Sustainability can be thought of as a multi-pillar ideology that 40 and 80 miles above the surface, the first stage runs out of considers environmental, economic, and social concerns. fuel and is jettisoned from the rest of the rocket which “Creating and nurturing innovations that benefit the continues soaring upward under the power of the second stage environment, positively impact the community and improve engines. After separation, the first stage falls back down to quality of life” is crucial for sustainable technological Earth [6]. The concept of multistage rockets was separately advancement [4]. The Falcon 9 rocket aims to satisfy all three worked on simultaneously in the early 20th century by three pillars of this definition of sustainability. Environmentally, the scientists, American Robert Goddard, German Hermann Falcon 9 saves crucial materials for the construction of first Oberth, and Russian Konstantin Tsoilkovski [7]. Engineers stage rockets [3]. Economically, the Falcon 9 save millions of designed rockets with multiple stages so that when the fuel on dollars in just a single rocket launch compared to traditional one stage is depleted, that rocket can detach itself to prevent rockets [3]. When looking at the societal impact, this the rest of the rocket from having to waste energy carrying technology allows for increased space access. This will result unnecessary weight [6]. This process is very efficient as it in having a better understanding of our universe and for a more greatly conserves fuel, which saves both resources and money. secure and prosperous future for the human race [5]. Despite the success and practicality of using multistage There are many benefits to be gained through increased rockets, there is one very critical issue to this practice space exploration. One of these benefits includes the regarding what happens to the first stage after it separates. multitude of resources waiting to be discovered and Traditionally, first stage rockets are designed to either burn up utilized. For example, the moon is rich in helium-3 which is a upon entry to the Earth’s atmosphere or plummet into the rare isotope found on Earth but can be used for nuclear fusion ocean at thousands of miles an hour [8]. Either way, the rocket research [1]. In addition to materials, increased access to space is rendered useless, never to fly again. This creates a serious can provide us with a better understanding of the workings of problem because, as reported by distinguished international the universe. With that, we will have a better chance for business magazine, Fortune, “the first stage of any space solving currently unknown questions regarding how the rocket is far and away the most expensive piece of the space universe and its components function. Given that the universe launch enterprise, containing the bulk of the rocket’s engines” is infinite, it means that there can literally no end to space [9]. On average, of the estimated $100 to $150 million required exploration. to build a rocket and launch it, around $60 million (if not, Perhaps the most significant reason for space exploration more) of that price goes to building the first stage as reported is to rescue life on Earth from extinction. Many scientists, by Loren Grush of the technology news site, The Verge [3]. including Stephen Hawking [5], agree that at some point the Having to continually rebuild first stages accounts for Earth will not be able to support human life. Even if there are anywhere between 40%-70% of the entire launch process no asteroid collisions or life-ending nuclear wars, it is only a alone [3]. Additionally, having to rebuild these rockets means matter of time before Earth becomes uninhabitable due to our a huge cost to time and resource. According to NASA, a first expanding sun and limited natural resources. We have a very stage rocket requires hundreds of thousands of pounds of limited future as a species if we do not become multi- aluminum and titanium and potentially several years to build planetary. It truly is a race against time to develop the [10]. technologies that will allow for the colonization of other These setbacks illustrate the non-sustainable economic celestial bodies. and environmental issues that traditional rockets have by All of the benefits of more space travel and exploration constantly needing to be rebuilt. Due to the costs of money, can be achieved through the use of reusable rockets which time, and resources, launching rockets has become a very allow for cheaper, more frequent, and more sustainable access limited practice leading to repressed space exploration which to space. proves them to also not be socially beneficial. This is a very unfortunate case because there’s still so much to learn about HOW TRADITIONAL ROCKETS ARE USED and gain from space exploration. However, due to recent innovations from space travel companies such as Since the dawn of space travel with the launch of the SpaceX, rocket travel will become much more practical.
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