SpaceX just did something it’s never done before

[Mike Wehner]

• SpaceX successfully launched a South Korean military satellite into orbit on Monday.
• The mission was historic as it was the first time SpaceX has successfully recovered both halves of its nosecone after launch.
• By snagging the nosecone halves as they fall, the company could save millions of dollars and further shorten the turnaround time between launches.

SpaceX has built a business around its reusable rocket technology. The company saves money and performs more frequent launches thanks to its ability to use boosters multiple times. It's gotten very, very good at recovering its boosters, but capturing other rocket components has proven more challenging.

In yesterday's mission to send a South Korean military satellite skyward, the company pulled off something it's never done before by snagging both halves of its rocket's nosecone. The two halves — called fairings — are pricey pieces of equipment in their own right, and if SpaceX can make a habit of recovering them, it'll make subsequent launches that much easier.

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SpaceX just did something it’s never done before originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 21 Jul 2020 at 11:21:20 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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