by Brian Lin (’27) | March 22, 2024

During SpaceX’s first-ever rocket launch of the Falcon 1, the engine failed after 33 seconds, causing the rocket to dive straight into the ocean. Following this launch were two more unsuccessful attempts, each costing billionaire founder Elon Musk approximately seven million dollars. No one believed in a privately owned company that failed its first three launches. However, just a few years later, SpaceX became the first to produce and launch a reusable rocket that landed vertically.

 The Falcon 9, first launched in 2010, was produced as a successor for the Falcon 1 and 5. Its goal was to create a safe way to transport people and materials into orbit. Although made by a private company, it was funded by NASA after a few successful test flights. The rocket was designed to have two stages: a first booster that carried the rest of the rocket most of the way into orbit and a second booster that carried it to a designated location in the orbit. Both these boosters are reusable and land vertically back on Earth. The last engine is the only unrecyclable part of the rocket, but it only consists of one main engine and other cheaper components.

As of today in March of 2024, the Falcon 9 has completed 308 launches with a 99.4% success rate. It has had 266 landings and 239 reflights. The boosters have been used up to 19 times without change. Two years after the initial launch, the Falcon 9 became the first rocket to deliver materials to the ISS (International Space Station). To date, it is also the only U.S. rocket certified to transport humans to the ISS. Lastly, the rocket also has the record for most launches and highest success rate.

When the rocket was first developed, scientists estimated that it would take the cost of 12 one-use rockets to research, develop, and produce a reusable rocket. However, Elon Musk and SpaceX proved that it was well worth the cost. Over the years, the Falcon 9 has saved space travel millions of dollars with its cost-efficient rocket. While it was initially expensive to make, the Falcon 9 shows how high risk has a high reward.

Originally named after the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, the Falcon 9’s goal was to create a reusable and cost-effective way to go to orbit and back. Although it couldn’t achieve hyper speed like the ship it was named for, it did achieve its goal and created something never seen before in the history of space travel.