Vasquez, Isaac

Mr. Wisner

World History

Period 4th T/Th

Date: March 31, 2017

SpaceX Launches a Satellite With a Partly Used Rocket

Link to article
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/science/spacex-launches-a-satellite-with-a-partly-u
sed-rocket.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftechnology&action=click&cont
entCollection=technology&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&conten
tPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

Key Vocabulary from the Article (Define at least 4).

Crucial- decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of
something.
Replicating- make an exact copy of; reproduce.
Refurbishment- the renovation and redecoration of something, especially
a building.
Reusability- capable of being used again or repeatedly.

Summary of the Event (at least 3 major points; each point will have its own paragraph)

On Thursday March the 30, 2017 the Falcon 9 Rocket was launched from Station
SpaceX. What was noticeable about this rocket was that it was the first rocket to be
reused after a launch. The Falcon 9 Rocket was launched as an experiment in order to
reduce the cost of space travel. According to Mr. Musk who was quoted saying: It
completed did this mission perfectly this first time space launch was a complete success.
Until this point space rockets have been used only once and retired. Costing
millions to replace and refuel the whole rocket. The Falcon X is the first proof of reusable
rockets being able to work in a second launch. The bulk of the expense in space
exploration comes from the constructing of new rockets. However if a rocket could be
reused and simply refueled it would drop the cost of space exploration significantly. It is
essentially the modern day space rocket interchangeable parts.
 This single launch has many optimistic about the future and many companies are
interested in the economic opportunities this new innovation brings. Currently most
satellites are used for telecommunication on Earth and are launched by NASA. This new
innovation may give companies the economic opportunity to fund their own space
launches. Mr. Musk in particular is very hopeful for a future interplanetary Transport
System for future space missions such as the Mars Space Mission.

Your Opinion of the Event (at least 3 sentences).

I think that it is very resourceful to use rockets more than once. With the money saved we
could start making even more advances in the technology used for space travel. The reuse
of rockets would be very useful in these aspects as well as helping us understand our
universe with every advancement made.

Relate your Event to a Historical Event (compare and contrast with current event).
This event can be related to the first space launch. In both launches the scientist were
trying to do something new to improve space exploration. The advancements made since
then have been dramatic in the fact that our spacecraft have become more reliable to use.
Now with the ability to reuse rockets will only make future advancements even better.

Relate your Event to the a subtheme (at least 3 sentences).

This event can be related to the subtheme of science and technology. This is because of
the refurbishing of used rockets to save money for other technological advances in the
future. This new technological advancement can further industrialize and improve space
travel.

Questions You Have About the Event (4).

What other benefits are there for reusing rockets besides being able to save money?
What difficulties come with reusing rockets for multiple launches?
Why haven't we tried to reuse rockets before?
How long does the refurbishing process the rockets have to go through take?