Reflection on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

Engineering Extension

By Jake Kimmerer

April 13, 2017

On Thursday, March 30th, SpaceX

successfully launched and landed a previously-

launched Falcon 9 rocket. The purpose of the

launch was to deliver SES-10, a commercial

communications satellite for SES, to

geostationary orbit around Earth. The launch of

the Falcon 9 was a historic milestone on the

road to full and rapid reusability as it was the

first ever launch of a previously used rocket

(SpaceX, 2017).

To me, this event is absolutely astonishing. I am extremely interested in aerospace, and

have been paying fairly close attention to SpaceX and what they are doing in the industry. It is

almost unimaginable to think that they were able to return the first stage of a rocket from space,

and then launch the same rocket again a year later.

Thinking about this from an engineering perspective, the Falcon 9 rocket is a marvel of

engineering. The main feature of the rocket that interests me is its landing capability. Based on a

SpaceX report, it appears that there are 4 main components that allow the rocket to land:
 1. Fuel Reserves: The Falcon 9 has an expanded fuel reserve so that it has enough fuel to

burn on descent back to Earth in order to slow itself down. Without this fuel, the Falcon 9

would need some other way to slow down.

2. Grid Fins: Grid fins are small, foldable, heat-resistant wings that are needed to steer the

rocket as it falls back to Earth.

3. Cold-Gas Thrusters: Thrusters that are located at the top of the first stage of the rocket

that are used to flip its orientation so that it falls standing up.

4. Landing Legs: Carbon fibre legs that deploy as the rocket approaches its landing position.

The most astounding part about these components is that once the rocket is in flight, the

implementation of these components is completely automated, and react/adjust based on

incoming real-time data (SpaceX, 2015).

What I think about when I see the Falcon 9 and what it is capable of is the true power of

engineering. Every aspect of the rocket is designed by engineers. Not only that, but it is a team of

engineers working together. The teamwork that goes into making every system of the rocket

working in unison to do something so unimaginable is inspiring. What this shows me is that

engineering is an avenue to unimaginable feats. As engineers, we are the ones who take dreams

and make them a reality, we shape the world of tomorrow by creating things that have an impact.

This is the type of engineer I want to be; one that is on the forefront of innovation, inspiring

others to do the same, just as the engineers at SpaceX have inspired me.
 References

SpaceX. (2015, June 25). The why and how of landing rockets. Retrieved April 14, 2017, from

http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/06/24/why-and-how-landing-rockets

SpaceX. (2017, March). SES-10 Mission. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from

http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/finalses10presskit.pdf