A few days ago, when SpaceX in an unprecedented ‘chopsticks’ manoeuvre caught a rocket’s massive booster stage as it descended back to Earth, CEO Elon Musk tweeted: “Big step towards making life multiplanetary was made today.”
Just as Armstrong’s Moon landing signified a huge leap for mankind, SpaceX’s advancements symbolize humanity’s re-defined relationship with the cosmos. Each successful launch and recovery brings us closer to making space travel a routine affair.
The feat of catching a booster for re-use not only exemplifies SpaceX’s cutting-edge engineering, but also raises a provocative question: Are we as a species going to conquer the heavens?
SpaceX was born from Musk’s vision of a human settlement on Mars, a “positive, constructive, inspirational goal” to unite humanity in challenging times. To that end, he proposed $20 million for a ‘Mars Oasis’ project, an initiative aimed at sending a robotic lander to Mars by 2005 and creating a mini greenhouse.
Unfortunately, the plan did not materialize, largely due to the exorbitant costs of launching rockets into space. This obstacle prompted the birth of SpaceX.
In the following years, through cutting-edge research, the company went about trying to revolutionize the rocket-launch industry, lowering costs. Frequent launches of rockets built in larger quantities helped SpaceX achieve economies of scale, leading to reduced per-unit costs.
It was an innovative business model, with re-usable rockets a key aim and synergies maximized with allied projects, like Starlink—SpaceX’s ‘satcom’ business aimed at offering internet access across the globe through a constellation of satellites. The very scale of the company’s ventures into space qualify for what Thomas Kuhn would call a ‘paradigm shift.’
For decades, space travel was characterized by expensive, one-time-use rockets that necessitated extensive resources for each launch and limited orbital access. SpaceX disrupted this model with its development of reusable rocket technology, allowing a single vehicle to undertake multiple flights, significantly reducing costs.
At the heart of these achievements lies a commitment to investment in research and development (R&D). It proves that the relevance of R&D extends beyond innovation; it cultivates a culture of curiosity and experimentation. SpaceX’s iterative approach—testing, learning and adapting—has been at the forefront of all its successes and failures.
SpaceX’s use of failure as a learning tool is especially commendable. From the Amos-6 incident in 2016 to the Starship SN1 and Starship SN3 in 2020, it has faced its fair share of mishaps.
But by embracing the philosophy of “fail fast, learn faster,” it was able to quickly identify and address failures, and is now capable of doing back-to-back launches within 24 hours.
The company’s efforts also shine a light on how rigorous scientific inquiry can yield practical solutions beyond aerospace. The Starlink project, for instance, not only aims to democratize internet access but expand the broader telecommunication revolution to all parts of the world. Its beneficiaries include business operations, emergency responses, remote education projects and other endeavours.
Starlink’s advanced satellite technologies provide critical data on deforestation, urbanization, weather extremes and natural disasters. From an economic perspective as well, the ripple effects of SpaceX’s technological advancements have stimulated developments in related sectors, such as aerospace engineering, robotics and materials science.
An emphasis on sustainable practices in rocket development can inspire innovations in green technology. Techniques developed for energy efficiency and waste reduction in space travel can be applied to industries such as manufacturing, transportation and energy, promoting sustainable practices across multiple sectors.
Advancements in data analytics and satellite technology can be utilized to track the spread of diseases. Satellites can monitor environmental factors that contribute to disease outbreaks, aiding researchers and public health officials in responding proactively.
Disruptive innovation, as done by SpaceX, therefore, offers solutions not just for humanity’s future, but also for the present. With challenges such as climate change and resource depletion looming over planet Earth, the need for humanity to adapt has never been more pressing.
With great power, however, comes great responsibility. SpaceX’s ambitions offer a glimpse into a future where humanity can thrive beyond our planet, seeking out new resources and opportunities.
As we stand at the threshold of this new era, it is crucial to recognize the impact that R&D has on our prospects. The lessons learnt from this journey highlight the importance of a robust scientific framework that not only drives technological advancements, but also prepares us for ethical dilemmas that lie ahead.
The exploration of space is not just about conquering new frontiers. It is about understanding our place in the universe and the responsibility we hold as stewards of our planet and explorers of the great beyond.