The Business of Reusable Rockets

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX did something unique—they caught a 21-storey long 200-ton rocket booster using two giant mechanical arms called “Chopsticks.” Yes, Chopsticks! But why is this such a big deal for SpaceX and space exploration? To get it, let’s first dive into how companies like SpaceX make money from rockets.

How Space Companies Make Money:

1. Sending Cargo to Space for the International Space Station: Countries want to send cargo to space, but not all have rockets. That’s where companies like SpaceX come in, delivering cargo for governments and space agencies—for the small fee of a few million dollars (bargain, right?).
2. Launching Satellites: Satellites are crucial for global data transmission and internet services. Companies and countries pay big bucks to either launch their satellites or rent satellite services from companies like SpaceX.
3. Big Space Dreams: This one’s a little wild, but imagine if Elon Musk manages to colonize Mars—he’d own a Mars-Earth business! Investors love the idea of these out-there dreams, like space tourism or asteroid mining. Even if it’s not happening tomorrow, it excites people (and throwing money at it).

So, Why Reusable Rockets?

Now, what’s the deal with reusable rockets? Why spend so much time figuring out how to use the same rocket again? Well, when rockets go to space, they break apart in stages:

1. Launch & Lift-off: The rocket shoots up from the launch pad with engines blazing. All parts are intact, and it’s loaded with fuel.
2. First Stage Separation: After burning all its fuel, the first stage says goodbye and falls back to Earth—usually into the ocean.
3. Second Stage Separation: Same deal; the second stage burns fuel and drops off while the payload keeps increasing.
4. Payload Fairing Separation: The protective cover (like a rocket jacket) is no longer needed in space, so it gets thrown away.
5. Final Stage: The final stage pushes the payload (like a satellite) to its target orbit. Mission complete!
6. 

But here’s the thing—those rocket parts that fall into the ocean or burn up are super expensive to replace! So, if you can catch and reuse them, you save much money and time. That’s where the “Chopsticks” come in. Instead of letting the booster splash into the ocean (or worse, burn up), they catch it with mechanical arms, saving even more money than ocean landings.

And why does that matter? Saving all that money and time means space becomes way more accessible. More projects, more launches, and more people getting to play astronauts. It’s all about economics—the more you save, the faster space exploration can progress. And thanks to reusable rockets, we’re getting closer to making space a place where more things (and maybe more people) can go!