Accomplishments, potential of SpaceX

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible,” said Arthur C. Clarke, author of the acclaimed science fiction novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

It was in 2002, however, that Elon Musk embraced Clarke’s words by founding SpaceX.

“SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft,” their website explained. “The company was founded… to revolutionize space technology with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.”

The words of Musk explain the success of SpaceX: “The first step is to establish something that is possible. Then probability will occur.”

With its three vehicles, Falcon 9, Dragon, and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX has found itself on several news headlines.

Specifically, the company’s website explains, “SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010.

The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station (ISS), exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.”

Most recently on July 18, SpaceX conducted Falcon 9’s 28th launch. The operation was contracted under NASA for the vehicle’s ninth resupply mission to the ISS. This mission is part of a 1.6 billion dollar contract between NASA and SpaceX, with at least 12 more resupply trips to take place before 2024.

NASA is but one of many clients for SpaceX; their “launch manifest is populated by a diverse customer base, including space station resupply missions, commercial satellite launch missions, and US government science and national security missions.”

“SpaceX is the world’s fastest-growing provider of launch services,” their website adds.

As their accomplishments to date have proved, the future of SpaceX is one of expanding potential.

The company explains, “Currently under development is the Falcon Heavy, which will be the world’s most powerful rocket. All the while, SpaceX continues to work toward one of its key goals—developing reusable rockets, a feat that will transform space exploration by delivering highly reliable vehicles at radically reduced costs.”

The progress of Falcon Heavy is a stepping stone in the overarching goal for SpaceX, interplanetary exploration. “Falcon Heavy was redesigned from the outset to carry humans into space and restores the possibility of flying missions with crew to the Moon or Mars,” SpaceX explains.

Further, an agreement with NASA is helping SpaceX to make modifications and “refinements that will enable Dragon to fly crew. Dragon’s first manned test flight is expected to take place in two to three years.”

The Dragon will be a critical component to the future of SpaceX. Spaceflight Now author Stephen Clark said, “SpaceX’s plan to send a Dragon capsule to Mars in 2018 will be the first in a sequence of unmanned commercial missions to the rust-colored world before the first voyage with humans as soon as 2024…”

“That’s the game plan — approximately 2024 to launch the first of the Mars colonial transport systems with people,” founder Musk reported of their progress. Comparatively, NASA’s tentative schedule for Mars exploration is projected for the 2030s.

“The basic game plan,” Musk explained, “is we’re going to send a mission to Mars with every Mars opportunity from 2018 onwards.”

Opportunities refer to when Earth and Mars are closest together in their orbit, every 26 months, making the trip most efficient.

Of upcoming developments, Clark reports, “Musk plans to unveil his architecture for colonizing Mars, a prime mission of SpaceX when he established the company in 2002, in September at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico.”

Progress for the Mars mission will not be easy.

“Known for announcing ambitious schedules, Musk acknowledged the timetable is ambitious and rife with uncertainties,” Clark added.

The mentality of its founder assures the perseverance of SpaceX towards its goals, in Earth’s orbit or otherwise.

Musk is known for saying, “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.”