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This is an archive article published on June 4, 2012
Cosmic ambition
SpaceX becomes the first commercial flight to make it to the space station and back
Written by The Indian Express
June 4, 2012 02:21 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
SpaceX becomes the first commercial flight to make it to the space station and back
Wernher von Braun,the rocket scientist who designed the Saturn V superbooster that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon,was asked what the point of going to the moon was. He said,What is the purpose of a newborn baby? We find out in time. However,much has changed since the moon landings,and our ambitions for space have shrunk. After those glory days of discovery in the 60s,NASA has had a hard time justifying the enormous expense,and explaining its utility to American taxpayers. The Obama administration consciously recast the agency to outsource orbit-oriented activities to the private sector,letting NASA focus on grander exploratory projects. In other words,let the market figure out the uses of space-shuttling,and go for it.
And so they have,with SpaceX,an audacious space transport company. Nine days after its launch,Dragon,the first private spacecraft to get to the International Space Station,has returned successfully,splashing down in the Pacific,off the coast of Baja,California. Space X prides itself on being limber and inventive,unlike the costly,bureaucracy-laden models of other space-launch contractors. In December 2010,SpaceX became the first private company to launch and return a craft from orbit. Its founder,Elon Musk,formerly an internet entrepreneur,casually speaks of human exploration and settlement in Mars as his larger aim.
If that works out,Musk will be the man who saw tomorrow. Right now,the uses of commercial spaceflight sound more theoretical than real,with few takers for the ride. You can already lease a spot on Russias Soyuz spacecraft,for 20-35 million dollars. Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic,which offers a sub-orbital trip for 200,000,has sold only two tickets so far,and is only planning its first flight. Will SpaceX manage to make a market for this extravagant dream?
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