The Ingenious Journey of Reusable Rockets: How SpaceX and Its Engineers Achieved theImpossible

Elon Musk is often credited with developing reusable rockets for SpaceX, but the truth is, he was not directly involved in the technical design and execution. It was the hardworking engineers and designers at SpaceX who brought Musk's ambitious ideas to life. This article delves into the process, explaining how SpaceX achieved what once seemed impossible, and highlighting the efforts of the engineers behind it all.

The Real Hero: SpaceX Engineers

SpaceX did not develop reusable rockets for Elon Musk. The idea was Musk's, but the execution was the work of dedicated engineers and designers within the company. Musk provided a rough idea of what he wanted, and the team at SpaceX worked tirelessly to turn it into a reality. When you see shots of Elon Musk looking deep in thought or focused on a design document, it's for photo ops. The actual design work was done by countless engineers who rendered the complex designs and solved the intricate problems involved in building reusable rockets.

For example, if you look behind Elon in the background, you'll often see him surrounded by a variety of books and materials. One of these books, Soyuz, was not just for show. It was a part of the research and development process. Engineers at SpaceX used the theoretical knowledge from various sources to create their designs, ensuring that the rockets were not only innovative but also practical and effective.

Partially Reusable Rockets

Musk's Falcon 9 rocket is only partially reusable. While the first stage can return to Earth and be used again, the second stage is not recoverable. This partial reusability, though a significant improvement over previous designs, still represents a considerable step forward in the field of rocket recovery and reuse.

Similarly, SpaceX's Starship aims to achieve full reusability, but as of the current development stage, it has not yet been fully successful. The focus is on making each component as reusable as possible while minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency.

The Science and Design Behind Reusable Rockets

SpaceX's reusable rocket technology is the result of careful scientific research and engineering prowess. They did not base their design decisions on political considerations but on the fundamental principles of physics and cost-effectiveness.

The primary goal was to reduce the cost per tonne to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and make rockets reusable, even for a modest reduction in payload, which would save a vast amount of money. This approach was essential for the feasibility of a human Mars mission.

A key challenge in making rockets reusable is the issue of vertical landing. The Merlin engine used in the Falcon 9, for instance, cannot be throttled sufficiently to hover a rocket. If the Falcon 9 reached zero velocity at 20 meters up, it would immediately start accelerating upwards. Timing is crucial to ensure that zero velocity and zero altitude coincide with engine cutoff.

It took many attempts, but SpaceX engineers eventually figured out how to achieve the perfect vertical landing. The process is now almost predictable, allowing them to land rockets almost every time. This level of precision was not achievable with the previous, Congress-led US space program, which had a range of constantly changing goals and requirements, making it difficult to focus on any one effective approach.

Conclusion

The development of reusable rockets is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the engineers and designers at SpaceX. While Musk's vision and leadership were crucial in starting the process, it was the relentless work of the team that made it all possible. The achievement of full reusability in rockets represents a significant step forward in space exploration, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable more ambitious missions in the future.