Falcon 9 Reusability Emphasized with 21-Time Veteran

SpaceX has really been driving home the concept of reusability for its Falcon series of rockets, with its recent Starlink mission account for the 21st launch for that particular spacecraft.

It's a testament to the level of engineering and dedication they had to bring to the table, not to mention the attractive cost savings that come with reusing expensive space assets. In the old days, rockets were one-time use, costlier than even expensive aircraft by an order of magnitude, and about as long-lived as a Dixie cup moldering on a dorm room shelf.SpaceX has proven that a well-designed rocket system can have more lives than a lucky cat, now that one has completed 21 whole deliveries without issue. That particular Falcon 9 was Booster 1062, which managed to deliver 23 more V2 mini Starlink satellites into orbit. Even its turnaround has improved, since Booster 1062 had only returned to Earth after its previous mission 35 days beforehand.

It's all good to see for those eagerly awaiting futuristic orbital internet and cheaper space travel. The more Falcon flights SpaceX can cram into each specific booster, the cheaper the program becomes, and all the more equipment can be placed in orbit. Of course, Musk's place in the limelight tends to bring on some negativity from the peanut gallery, so the conversation surrounding SpaceX feasibility always has those nagging questions - is it truly cheaper to refurbish a multi-use rocket? Is the system reliable enough to trust? In the latter case, the Falcon provides a nifty insight into how good Starship can one day be. Improvements, iterations, and repeated tests will pave the way for more refined systems, to the point where some future booster can pull off almost two dozen consecutive launches without issue. 

But it all has to start somewhere.

FMI: www.spacex.com