It’s a step toward landing it back at the launch site for rapid reuse.
The project’s long-term objectives include returning a launch vehicle first stage to the launch site in minutes and to return a second stage to the launch pad following orbital realignment with the launch site and atmospheric reentry in up to 24 hours. Both stages will be designed to allow reuse a few hours after return.
1) Why is it important that the rocket that just landed take off again so soon? I’ve always had the impression that space missions aren’t too frequent.
2) Does transporting the rocket from the ocean back to the launch site cost a lot of money? Is avoiding this a big benefit of the reusable launch system?
Why is it important that the rocket that just landed take off again so soon?
While that’s worded in customer benefit, I think the actual reason is supply-side: hovering is costly, and so landing the stages as cheaply as possible implies doing it quickly.
I’ve always had the impression that space missions aren’t too frequent.
This may be because they are so expensive; if reusable rockets decrease the launch costs significantly enough, there may be many more launches.
It’s a step toward landing it back at the launch site for rapid reuse.
— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_reusable_launch_system_development_program
1) Why is it important that the rocket that just landed take off again so soon? I’ve always had the impression that space missions aren’t too frequent.
2) Does transporting the rocket from the ocean back to the launch site cost a lot of money? Is avoiding this a big benefit of the reusable launch system?
While that’s worded in customer benefit, I think the actual reason is supply-side: hovering is costly, and so landing the stages as cheaply as possible implies doing it quickly.
This may be because they are so expensive; if reusable rockets decrease the launch costs significantly enough, there may be many more launches.
I don’t think there will be, because sattelites themselves usually are much more expensive than their launch.