SpaceX sticks another sea landing: Is it a reliable business model?

[WhiteTara]

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2016/0528/SpaceX-sticks-another-sea-landing-Is-it-a-reliable-business-model

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stuck another landing last night, its third this year. With a handful of successes under its belt, is SpaceX one step closer to providing more affordable spaceflight service?

SpaceX streamed video of the rocket’s launch and landing last night via its website. Viewers were able to watch the Falcon 9 rocket take off with its massive payload, a 6,669 pound Thaicm 8 communications satellite, before the rocket soared 91,000 kilometers (56,000 miles) above Earth's surface.

After delivering its payload, the rocket headed back to Earth. The speed and altitude required to launch the communications satellite made the rocket’s chance of a successful landing less certain.

snip

Rockets cost around $60 million, according to an April article in the Christian Science Monitor, but refueling only costs between $200,000 and $300,000. That’s a massive difference, and SpaceX executives say it could make all the difference to the future of space travel.

[6chars]

1. $30/pound delivery service

that's better than overnight airmail.

[WhiteTara]

2. Yes it is!

[deathrind]

3. I am amazed...

At the re-entry / landing method they collapsed on.

I think it is a good business model...as for reliable...we are talking about going into space and coming back so it is never going to be 100%.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Nothing yesterday on any Media.

Between Wall Street and the so called Independent Free Media,they have Mr. Musk in their cross hairs and seem to be trying to collapse his Enterprises. The Guy is the real deal and they better get use to it.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Elon Musk reminds me of a modern day version of Bucky Fuller

Musk is a doer with great ideas.

Fuller was a man of great ideas who did some of them.

Both were way ahead of their times.

I admire both of them. When I was a young man, Fuller was one of my heroes.