B7
Paper #237
Disclaimer—This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly
available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other
than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
ROCKETS AS PART OF THE REUSABLE LAUNCH SYSTEM
Ryan Ronczka, [email protected], Sanchez-5:00pm, Jonathan Klan, [email protected], Vidic-2:00pm
Abstract— This paper discusses the Reusable Launch System
(RLS) used on the Falcon 9 by SpaceX. This technology allows
rockets to land back on Earth, then be refurbished and refueled
for future launches. The goal of this system is to recover the
first stage of the rocket, which contains the main propulsion
system, so that it can be used again. According to SpaceX’s
website, this is done with the cold-gas thrusters, which orient
the rocket in space so that it can make a successful vertical
descent, the grid fins, which are programmed to steer the
rocket vertically towards the landing point, and the landing
legs, which are light enough to be included on the rocket, yet
sturdy enough to allow for a successful landing. The paper will
then discuss the execution of the RLS, which is shown through
several successfully landings of various Falcon 9 rockets,
although none of them have been reused yet. Ultimately, the
goal of this system is to lower the cost of space travel by saving
the materials needed to create an entirely new rocket. This will
lead to many benefits to the economy and engineers that are
discussed in this paper. The RLS will make space travel much
more affordable, allowing the process to become more
common.
Key Words—Reusable Launch System, SpaceX, Falcon 9,
refurbishment, cold-gas thrusters, grid fins, landing legs
CHANGING THE WORLD WITH
REUSABLE ROCKETS
The practice of sending rockets into space, although
extraordinary, is nothing new to the last half-century of
extraterrestrial space travel. However, a 2011 space.com
article states that rocket prices have “not gone down by much”,
even though the use of rockets has been nearly perfected over
the past few decades [1]. A study done by the University of
Colorado-Boulder shows that the average cost of a NASA
launch from a rocket’s creation, testing, and launch was
consistently around 1.2 billion dollars [1]. This is far too high
of a price to make the rocket industry a feasible one.
To counteract this issue, engineers have figured out a way
to reuse rockets that have been sent into space with the
Reusable Launch System (RLS), a complex organization of
technologies that allows a rocket to land on a platform and be
prepared for future launches. This process is being
revolutionized by Elon Musk and his company SpaceX. Elon
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
Submission Date 03.03.2017
Musk is a South African-born Canadian-American business
entrepreneur, investor, engineer, and inventor credited for the
creation of successful company’s such as SpaceX, Tesla, and
PayPal. SpaceX is one of the major proponents for space
exploration development, which is being done with the
application of the Falcon 9 rocket. The RLS technology and
execution allow the main propulsion system of the Falcon 9 to
be recovered, making the whole process much less expensive.
This is achieved through multiple mechanisms. First, the coldgas thrusters orient the rocket in space so that it can make a
successful vertical descent. Then, the grid fins are programmed
to steer the rocket vertically towards the landing point. Finally,
the landing legs are utilized, which are light enough to be
included on the rocket, yet sturdy enough to allow for a
successful landing [2]. According to Lars Blackmore, one of
SpaceX’s control system members, executing this successful
landing is as difficult as “balancing a rubber broomstick on
your hand in a windstorm while standing on a trampoline.”
After the Falcon 9 is landed, the financial benefits
become more evident, with the only additional costs coming
from two factors: refueling and refurbishing. The costs of
refueling were explained by Elon Musk when he stated that “it
costs $60 million to make the Falcon 9, and $200,000 to fuel
it” [3]. This much less expensive figure clearly shows that
utilizing the RLS instead of creating a whole new rocket will
reduce the cost of space travel significantly. The second cost
comes from refurbishing, a process which prepares the rocket
for another potential launch. Will Knight, a MIT Technology
Review senior editor, described the benefits of refurbishment
by stating that “fuel accounts for less than half of 1 percent of
the cost of a rocket launch… refurbishing a rocket would make
the next launch considerably cheaper” [4]. Both the refueling
and refurbishing, as opposed to creating a new rocket, allows
for a price much cheaper than that of previous NASA launches
[1].
The reduction of costs to space travel caused by the
utilization of the RLS will lead to many engineering jobs to
compensate for the demand in mechanical systems. While it is
important to recognize the potential physical and
psychological risks such as radiation exposure, vision
impairment, and the ethics of potential colonization, there is
little criticism of the RLS. Its reduced cost and efficient use of
resources will greatly benefit the economy, the environment,
and the space travel industry. These benefits are just starting to
Ryan Ronczka
Jonathan Klan
be shown, exemplified by the most recent Falcon 9 launch that
occurred on February 19, 2017. At the time of this paper’s
construction, the latest SpaceX landing had been completed
less than a month ago, giving SpaceX a total of eight
successfully landed Falcon 9 rockets that at some point may be
relaunched [5]. As of this time, the company hopes to reuse
its first rocket sometime in the next few months, a stunning
fact when considering what used to be science fiction is almost
a reality.
damage and a reliable transition [2]. After the intermediate
stage, the first stage of the rocket can start its deceleration back
towards earth’s surface. This is when the second stage is
activated. This second stage is powered by a single Merlin
engine which carries it to its destination. On top of the Falcon
9 is a deliverable spacecraft known as a “payload”. The Dragon
spacecraft can deliver up to 22,000 pounds of supplies to a
space shuttle anywhere in the low earth orbit. After the second
stage deploys its payload to the designated output, its mission
is complete. However, SpaceX is focused less on the
completion of the mission, and more on safely returning the
first stage of the rocket using the RLS (See Figure 1) [1].
HOW THE REUSABALE LAUNCH SYSTEM
WORKS
When making the venture to space, there are so many
things that can go wrong when attempting to launch and land
a rocket. The innovative design of the RLS helps minimize all
the factors that interfere with the rocket launch. The newest
version of the Falcon 9 (Full Thrust) is 230 feet tall, yet only
12 feet wide. Because of its slender dimensions, the walls of
the rocket are made of an aluminum-lithium alloy. According
to Richard James of the Aluminum Company of America,
“commercial aluminum-lithium alloys are targeted as
advanced materials for aerospace technology primarily
because of their low density, high specific modulus, and
excellent fatigue and cryogenic toughness properties” [6].
These properties are important to the Falcon 9 for multiple
reasons. First, the material is extremely strong, but also very
light, which means less fuel can be used to lift the 1.2-millionpound rocket upwards. Also, the material has a high melting
point and can withstand extremely cold temperatures. It has an
advantage of specific stiffness and compressive strength over
the conventional alloys, AA2219 and AA 2014. There are also
advantages in toughness and fatigue and corrosion resistance
[7]. The Falcon 9 runs on liquid oxygen and rocket-grade
kerosene (RP-1) propellant, according to SpaceX. The
aluminum-lithium alloy walls that enclose the fuel plays a
major role in protecting it from the extreme sub-zero
temperatures of space. All these specific properties preserve
the composition of the Falcon 9 and ensure it has the capability
to land back on earth.
It is important to acknowledge the process of launching
the Falcon 9 rocket to understand how it lands. The rocket has
three major divisions to it- the first stage, the interstage, and
the second stage. The first stage is mainly responsible for
supplying the necessary thrust that gets the rocket to a high
altitude. The moment after ignition, nine Merlin engines help
convert the fuel in the main chamber to thrust power. Another
part of the first stage is the three landing fins in a folded-up
position at lift off, specifically used for landing the rocket. This
stage makes up most of the rocket’s mass and surface area of
the body. After only a few minutes the rocket inside the
Mesosphere, and the intermediate stage takes place. The
intermediate stage is responsible for separating the first stage
from the rocket, as well as initiating the second stage. SpaceX
uses an “all-pneumatic stage separation system” for low-shock
FIGURE 1 [1]
The Falcon 9 flight plan
First, the cold-gas thrusters orient the rocket in space so
that it can make a successful vertical descent. Then, the grid
fins steer the rocket vertically towards the landing point.
Finally, the landing legs are utilized, which are light enough to
be included on the rocket, yet sturdy enough to allow for a
successful landing [2]. In most cases, the Falcon’s body
touches base on earth’s ground, but it can also land on a barge
that floats on the ocean. The landing destination depends on
the rocket's initial flight path. The Falcon 9 can only return to
its launch site on a low-orbit mission that has a light payload.
On missions with a heavier delivery, the first stage flies to a
higher altitude and has to land at sea. The accuracy needed for
any Falcon 9 rocket landing is extremely important. If
everything is executed properly, then the rocket will land
successfully. Elon Musk admitted that 2016 was the year for
experimentation for landing the Falcon 9, expecting a 70%
success rate. The previous year was in fact a successful one,
with only a few of the trials ending in failure. Nonetheless,
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there is always a significant chance of failure when attempting
the extraordinary.
SPACEX’S EXECUTION OF THE
RESUABLE LAUNCH SYSTEM WITH THE
FALCON 9
Previous Launches Made by SpaceX
For years SpaceX has been making headlines for their
innovative missions, but what often gets overlooked are the
complications of such risky pursuits. Besides financial
obstacles, engineers and scientists work to determine the best
materials, shapes, and techniques to impose on a rocket. This
is shown by the most recent trial for SpaceX’s Falcon 9. On
February 19 of this year the Falcon 9 launched from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida early in the morning. The
mission carried high risk, with the responsibility of more than
5,500 pounds of cargo on board [8]. The cargo was held in the
Dragon capsule and was released to its output-the International
Space Station. Before the capsule was delivered, the Falcon 9
rocket landed on a platform on the ground. SpaceX
successfully completed every part of their goal that Sunday.
The excitement that followed from the SpaceX crew was
understandable, considering recent trials by the company that
didn't end up how they wanted them to.
Only two trials before their most recent one (back in
September), the Falcon 9 experienced difficulties while trying
to land the rocket on a barge of the coast of its launching site.
According to Elon Musk, an “early liquid oxygen depletion”
caused an engine shutdown at the moment the rocket was just
above the deck. The engine shutdown resulted in the
uncontrollable velocity of body [8]. Unable to compensate for
the change in motion, the three landing legs touched the base
too fast at an uneven pace. The Falcon 9 went up in flames as
the engine shutdown permanently damaged the engines and the
body of the rocket, making it unusable for future launches.
Fortunately for SpaceX, they are getting better at launching
and landing the Falcon 9 so that its successes can almost be
expected. Elon Musk admitted that previous failures they have
witnessed helped the company gain value information to allow
for more annual launches in the near future (See Figure 2) [2].
“2016 is the year of experimentation”, Musk said. Clearly the
landing of the first stage is the most difficult part in every
Falcon 9 launch [8].
FIGURE 2 [2]
Increase in SpaceX launches annually, including current
progress for this year
The Process of Refurbishment
As seen before, there are many complications that arise
when SpaceX lands a rocket. Even if everything goes
according to plan, the Falcon 9 still has to endure extensive
damage from its launch. According to Lars Blackmore, in
addition to returning rockets to earth, “making sure rockets that
landed were fit for further launches would also be a significant
challenge” [4]. Before re-launching, rigorous testing has to be
done on the Falcon 9 to make sure it can launch again without
issues.
Damages that may lead to issues come from the extreme
conditions such as rapid pressure fluctuations, temperature
changes and vibrations. At around sea level, the atmospheric
pressure is 760 mmHg, but at the first stage’s highest altitude
of roughly 75 km, the atmospheric pressure is about .03 mmHg
[9]. Such a drastic change in pressure (25,000 times greater)
has the ability to bend the aluminum-lithium alloy walls that
make up the rocket. Because any external change of the
structure would result in an asymmetrical design, the Falcon 9
would not be able to safely launch again. In terms of
temperature, multiple pieces of the rocket are affected by the
colder temperatures of the mesosphere. At sea level, air
temperature is, on average, 15 degrees celsius (59 degrees
fahrenheit). At 75km, temperatures can reach below -70
degrees celsius (-94 degrees fahrenheit) [9]. By the time the
Falcon 9 makes its way up to its highest altitude, the rocket
will have experienced a temperature fluctuation of 70 degrees
in a matter of only 160 seconds. The rapid heating, cooling,
and reheating of metals has a direct effect on its ductility, a
measure of strength. Per Jason Thompson of Sparta Designing
Solutions company, “in general, materials with high ductility
(i.e. a tendency to deform before fracturing) and high strength
have good tensile toughness. Many materials experience a shift
from ductile to brittle behaviour if the temperature is lowered
below a certain point” [9]. The aluminum-lithium alloy, as
explained earlier, has unique properties that make it resistant
to freezing temperatures to increase the ductility much as
possible. These are a few of the points that are looked at when
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the rocket is being repaired. During this refurbishment process,
the entire aluminum-lithium alloy body is examined
extensively, regardless of any recorded damages from the
launch. Because the refurbishment process requires inspection
of every single part of the rocket, it is an arduous process.
Although refurbishing the Falcon 9 can be rigorous, the
savings of money and resources are well worth the work.
feasible industry, much like what the airline industry has
evolved into. While these savings are hypothetical at this point
(the rockets have yet to be reused by SpaceX), certain statistics
reveal the immense financial benefits that reusable rockets can
bring about. They are shown first when the current price of a
Falcon 9 rocket is compared to the price of other competing
rockets, such as those created by NASA, ULA (a combination
of Lockheed Martin and Boeing), and Arianespace (a
European rocket company). The Falcon 9 currently costs only
$61.2 million, while the Arianespace rocket costs $101.8
million, the ULA rocket costs $225 million, and the NASA
rocket during the height of the space shuttle program cost $450
million [10]. While the price of the Falcon 9 rocket is much
lower than the price of the competitor’s rockets, this is just the
current price of the Falcon 9 rocket, without the successful
execution of the RLS. Once the RLS is successfully
implemented, which could occur sometime in the next few
months, the price of the Falcon 9 is predicted to drop by thirty
percent, making the cost around $40 million [10]. From this
point, the only additional prices would come from
refurbishment.
Another large portion of the financial and economic
benefit will come from perfecting the refurbishment process.
This has been an expensive process in the past, causing the
price of the NASA space shuttle launches to climb upwards of
$1.5 billion, even though the rockets they used cost a fraction
of the price at $450 million [11]. The RLS used on the Falcon
9 will allow the refurbishing process to become less costly and
more efficient. This is due to the landing legs, which will
allow the Falcon 9 rockets to make a safe landing, and the
aluminum-lithium alloy frame, which can withstand the
extreme temperatures and pressures from the exiting and
entering of Earth’s atmosphere [11]. These components of the
RLS greatly decrease the cost of refurbishment with every
successful landing. Steve Poulos, a former NASA project
manager who worked on the Space Shuttle program stated that
the refurbishment of the Falcon 9 rocket will cost about half a
million dollars, a “pretty significant price reduction”
[11]. This is especially true when considering how much the
refurbishment for the Space Shuttle program cost. Keeping the
cost of refurbishment to a minimum will greatly reduce the
cost of Falcon 9 launches with the RLS, thus lowering the cost
of space travel.
Many experts, including those of SpaceNews, are
worried that the decrease in cost of the Falcon 9 rocket with
the RLS will still not be enough for space travel to become
feasible. A study by Jeffries suggests that in order to achieve
impactful economic benefits, the Falcon 9 would have to be
launched 30-40 times per year [10]. However, this will soon
not be a problem for SpaceX. Since SpaceX currently has
eight Falcon 9 rockets at its disposal that may some day be
reused, achieving this should be no issue. According to an
article on The Verge, SpaceX hopes to launch a rocket every
three weeks in 2017 [5]. This rate will only increase as more
of the rockets become reusable. The final reason that the RLS
will make space travel more feasible is because the greatly
Future Plans for the Reusable Launch System and
SpaceX
Although SpaceX has yet to reuse a Falcon 9 rocket in
space travel, they are closer every day to making it happen.
Less than a year ago, SpaceX sold its very first Falcon 9 rocket
to SES, another private space exploration company. SES is a
European satellite company located in Luxembourg which
operates more than 50 active satellites. SES announced last
year that they purchased a used Falcon 9 that was previously
launched on April 8, 2016 by SpaceX for a supply delivery to
the International Space Station [2]. It was SpaceX’s first
successful landing on a drone ship on the ocean. It is currently
in Cape Canaveral, Florida being tested for many conditions.
According to Stephen Clark of Spaceflight Now, “SpaceX
engineers already put the Merlin 1D engine through
qualification tests aimed at proving the power plant can launch
multiple times.” They have looked at the entire booster for its
sustainability by performing test-firings to make sure it can
withstand another launch. SES will launch the SES 10, a nearly
12,000-poundu satellite, which is held in the Dragon space
capsule, as part of the second stage [2]. Due to the heavy
payload, the twice used rocket will re-land on a barge
positioned on the ocean. SpaceX predicts the launch of this
satellite could happen as soon as a few months from now.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating
officer, told CBS news in January of this year that they plan to
launch around 20 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets in 2017.
By drastically increasing the output of rockets, the company is
able to reduce the price of a reusable Falcon 9 by 10% in order
to attract customers. Shotwell did not include specific contract
terms of the SES 10 satellite deal, but shared that SES acquired
a significant deal for being their first reusable rocket costumer.
SpaceX has shown that their progress of landing and
refurbishing rockets is becoming applicable to real world
undertakings.
THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF THE
REUSABLE LAUNCH SYSTEM
Economic Benefits from Implementing the Reusable
Launch System
Elon Musk said that not reusing rockets would be akin to
throwing away a $300 million airplane after one use; it is
illogical [10]. SpaceX and Musk hope that with the RLS used
on the Falcon 9, the price savings will make space travel a
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reduced price will increase demand across the international
market [10]. Because the launch rate will increase, the space
travel industry will flourish, leading to an increase of careers
in the engineering field.
FIGURE 3 [12]
Decline in NASA’s federal funding due to the increase in
private sectors, such as SpaceX
An increase in engineering jobs will not be the only
benefit to engineers as reusable rockets take off. As shown
throughout the history of NASA, advances in the aerospace
engineering field can lead to a plethora of advances in other
engineering fields. NASA claims that over 1800 spinoff
technologies came from the attempt at space exploration
[12]. These include artificial hearts, vacuums, memory-foam,
and carbon nanotubes, the latter of which being a material with
“significant engineering potential” [12]. SpaceX has also done
its part in using its innovative technologies to benefit other
fields of engineering. SpaceX’s new friction stir welding
process will aid mechanical engineers as they look to make
vehicles cheaper and less wasteful [12]. As the RLS
technology continues to expand, any number of technological
advances could come from this, further benefiting the
engineering field as a whole.
Innovations Leading to Benefits to Engineers
Much like the benefits to the economy, the potential
benefits to engineers have yet to be fully realized due to the
fact that the RLS has not been fully executed yet, and the space
industry has not benefited from it at this point. However, a
potential increase in engineering jobs can be shown by
comparing the currently developing interest in space travel to
a similar trend from several decades ago, the Space Race, as
depicted in an article by the Council on Foreign Relations. As
a part of the Space Race, the United States was attempting to
beat the USSR to the moon. This led to an increase in funding
to space related industries. This includes NASA, which had
its highest portion of government spending, around 4.5 percent
of the budget, during the height of the Space Race
[12]. Furthermore, the Space Race led to an increase in focus
on engineering careers, with nearly 36 percent of Bachelor’s
Degrees coming in the engineering field [12]. All of this led
to “400,000 jobs for engineers, scientists and technicians”
during the Apollo program, the inspiration for “half of the
scientists” who went into that field according to a study in the
science journal Nature. An increased emphasis on engineering
education and funding led to a massive increase in jobs for
engineers, and this same trend is being seen again as SpaceX
continues to perfect the practice of reusing rockets. According
to an article by Emily Marks for the University Herald, SpaceX
has seen an increase in funding over recent years, getting $500
million from NASA, nearly $1 billion from Google and
Fidelity, and help from the US Air Force to promote
competition in the space travel industry (See Figure 3)
[12]. The increase in funding has also caused an increase in
attention toward space travel and engineering careers. This is
best shown by two universities in Florida, where aerospace
engineering and physics interest has increased by 32% at the
University of Central Florida, and 60% at Embry Riddle since
2012 [13]. Much like it did during the Space Race in the
1960’s, an increase in engineering funding and education will
lead to an increase in engineering careers.
Ethical Dilemmas Associated with Increased Space Travel
As SpaceX continues to make the RLS a feasible
technology, the space industry will grow rapidly. The eventual
goal of SpaceX, with reusing rockets to make space travel
more affordable and thus more common, is to one day reach
Mars. Elon Musk even said that he “would like to die on
Mars.” While there are no ethical concerns with reusing
rockets efficiently, there are a number of ethical concerns that
would be associated with making space travel more prevalent
and potentially colonizing the red planet. The first set of
ethical issues comes with the impact on the human body during
space travel. An eight month trip in space would have serious
negative health implications, including exposure to space
radiation, the inability to treat an illness due to lack of
resources, and insanity due to isolation [14]. The potential
harms faced by the astronauts would have to be taken into
consideration before any grand space travel plans could be
formulated. Because many long-terms dangers of space are
unaccounted for or being researched currently, there is still a
grey area for human tolerance. The lack of technology and
knowledge of space would make avoiding these issues almost
impossible.
Other ethical issues come from the harm of space travel
on our planet and other planets that may be colonized. Our
planet has been harmed in the past by the downside of
innovative technologies, as shown by the dangers of the atom
bomb, and the pollution created by the automobile industry
[15]. The space industry would only add to this pollution, and
could lead to the pollution of other planets. Space travel could
lead to nothing more than sucking resources from one planet
and moving on to the next. Furthermore, the question of
ownership of the resources and the colonized planets will lead
to more ethical issues. The problem of who would colonize
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specific parts of space could lead to competition and war
[15]. While all these dilemmas are extreme issues, the benefits
of continuing the work on the RLS and increasing human
innovation overshadows the potential risks at this time.
likely to be reached if the RLS is successfully executed in the
dramatic fashion it is expected to.
While the improvements to economic sustainability satisfies
the needs of the current generation, the potential impact on
environmental sustainability could create a hazardous situation
for future generations. Although the negative environmental
impacts of the RLS are hypothetical, the potential problems
that could arise should not be ignored.
Just as other
technologies have already adapted to greener scenarios, there
is no doubt a renewable, healthier resource will be necessary
to power SpaceX’s endeavors with the RLS. As Elon Musk
has shown with his company Tesla, which produces innovative
electric powered vehicles, a solution to the fuel problem is
possible. While it is best to consider the potential harms the
RLS could induce, the benefits that this innovative technology
will provide has a greater impact on overall sustainability.
WORKING TO MAINTAIN A SUSTAINABLE
TECHNOLOGY
A major developing focus of engineering in the past few
decades has been the importance of sustainability. While this
includes many aspects of innovative processes, it is
summarized by the definition provided by the United Nations
in the 1987 Bruntland Report.
The UN states that
sustainability involves “satisfying the needs of the present
generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs” [16]. This can be shown
the best in three main considerations of innovation: social,
economic, and environmental.
The impact of the RLS on sustainability is best shown
through the definitions of each of the three focuses of
sustainability. Social sustainability is defined as “the ability of
a society to function at a level that promotes wellbeing” [17].
Although the RLS is an innovative process, it is more of an
expensive one, and does not really effect the wellbeing of a
society. The next pillar of sustainability, economic, is defined
as “the ability of an economy to support a defined level of
economic production” [17]. This is where the impact of the
RLS on sustainability is first seen. As shown by earlier
statistics, developing the reusable first stage components into
Falcon 9 rockets has significantly reduced the price of a single
rocket, downwards to about 40 million dollars. A reduction of
price combined with the new reusability components of the
SpaceX rockets has led to an increase in the number of rocket
launches. This is currently turning the space travel industry
into a practical, and lucrative one. Adding a new, innovative
industry will expand the economy, and thus improve economic
sustainability.
Although, the RLS of the Falcon 9 benefits economic
sustainability, its environmental factor still needs to be
considered. Defined as “the ability to support a defined level
of environmental quality”, environmental sustainability
reveals one of the biggest drawbacks of the RLS and the
expansion of the space industry [17]. The main concern is the
impact the fuel from an exponentially higher number of rocket
launches will have on the environment. A study done in 2010
states that increasing the number of launches per year (to the
point of one thousand) “will create a persistent layer of soot
particles…which is up to a million times more efficient at
heating up the atmosphere than carbon dioxide” [18]. While
one thousand launches per year seems far-fetched at this point,
it is reasonable to assume that this figure could be attained
sometime in the next few decades. Furthermore, a two-fold
increase in the number of rocket launches could cause
significant ozone loss [18]. Both of these realizations are
A HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR RESUABLE
ROCKETS
The Falcon 9 rocket is responsible for propelling
thousands of pounds of precious cargo into space. After
bringing the second stage up into the mesosphere, the first
stage heads down towards its landing pad, where the incredible
engineering of controlling the rocket is witnessed. With
extreme accuracy and control, SpaceX can land the slender
rocket back on the earth on a small flat surface. Through this
process of launching and landing, the Falcon 9 goes through
an intense experience of radical temperature and pressure
fluctuations, along with extensive combustion to its body.
After controlling the rocket back on earth, SpaceX
immediately goes to work on repairing the rockets damages
from its launch. After repairs, months and months of testing
goes on to determine the reusability of the rocket’s structure.
Although this is an extensive process that costs time, money,
and other resources, its reward is all worth it.
The economical savings that come from reusing rockets
is significant in such an expensive industry. SpaceX presumes
its dominance in the aerospace field by being able to reduce
the price of each individual launch. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket
is priced at only $61.2 million while its next competitor, the
Arianespace rocket, costs $101.8 million, which is a 150%
savings. In the end, reducing the price of space travel results in
an increase of extraterrestrial exploration for both private and
government owned companies. Despite the progress SpaceX
has made with the Falcon 9, some are concerned about the
potential risks that the commercialization of space travels
brings. NASA experts have studied the effects on living in
space for extensive periods at a time and found a negative
relationship. Health implications, radiation exposure,
untreatable illnesses, and sanity checks are a concern for
prolonged vulnerability to the elements. Those are worried the
increase of space travel will subject more people to the harmful
nature of space. Nonetheless, the benefits of the reusable
launch system can be ratified as a future investment in
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[10] P. de Selding. “SpaceX’s Reusable Falcon 9: What are
the Real Cost Savings for Customers?” SpaceNews.
4.15.2016.
Accessed
2.28.2017.
http://spacenews.com/spacexs-reusable-falcon-9-what-arethe-real-cost-savings-for-customers/
[11] L. Grush. “SpaceX’s reusable rockets will make space
cheaper-but how much?” The Verge. 12.24.2015. Accessed
2.28.2017.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/24/10661544/spacexreusable-rocket-refurbishment-repair-design-cost-falcon-9
[12] S. Markovich. “Space Exploration and U.S.
Competitiveness.” Council on Foreign Relations. 12.5.2014.
Accessed
3.2.2017.
http://www.cfr.org/space/spaceexploration-us-competitiveness/p31959
[13] E. Marks. “How Boeing and SpaceX Mars Missions can
Affect Higher Education.” University Herald. 10.17.2016.
Accessed
3.2.2017.
http://www.universityherald.com/articles/44698/20161017/bo
eing-spacexs-mars-missions-affect-higher-education.htm
[14] L. Zoloth. “Is a trip to Mars ethical?” Cosmos Magazine.
8.31.2015.
Accessed
3.2.2017.
https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/trip-mars-ethical
[15] P. Lin. “Cosmic Questions.” UTNE Reader. 12.2006.
Accessed
1.11.2017
http://www.utne.com/science-andtechnology/ethical-dilemmas-of-space-exploration
[16] “Gathering a body of global agreements.” The United
Nations. 1987. Accessed 3.30.2017. http://www.undocuments.net/ocf-02.htm
[17] “The Three Pillars of Sustainability.” Thwink. 2014.
Accessed 3.30.2017.
http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/ThreePillarsOfSustai
nability.htm
[18] A. Mann. “How Dirty is a Rocket Launch?” Now.Space.
7.15.2016. Accessed 3.30.2017. http://now.space/posts/howdirty-is-a-rocket-launch/
reducing resources and helping the economy. NASA is hopeful
many will see the success of SpaceX as an invitation to create
other private space exploration companies. When it comes to
venturing into space, one can only say the sky's the limit.
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1.9.2017. http://newatlas.com/spacex-fully-reusable-launchsystem/20033/
[2]
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http://www.spacex.com/falcon9
[3] C. Thenadi. “SpaceX’s Reusable Rockets Are the Next Big
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https://www.zingertek.com/home/2016/1/16/spacexsreusable-rockets-are-the-next-big-thing
[4] W. Knight. “Would Space Travel Flourish if we Could
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[6] C. Huan Sheng. “Cold Gas Attitude Control Systems.”
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/pdf
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank our audience of the 2017
Swanson School of Engineering Conference and our writing
instructor, Amanda Brant, for her help in organizing our
information towards the conference paper.
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Ryan Ronczka
Jonathan Klan
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Ryan Ronczka
Jonathan Klan
ENGINEERING 0012 • CONFERENCE PAPER EVALUATION • SPRING, 2017
Authors, Paper #:
Writing Instructor: Amanda Brant [email protected]
Excellent
Conference Paper demonstrates
 careful, ongoing attention to Writing Instructor’s
comments throughout all steps of the Conf. Paper
process; careful attention to in-class instruction;
careful attention to the assignment and related
materials
Conference Paper Abstract
 paper topic is clearly stated early in the abstract
 abstract provides an accurate, effective,
professional preview/summary of Conf. Paper
Within the Conference Paper: the science and
engineering of all key technologies
 are fully, clearly, and accurately detailed and
explained
 language of explanation and level of detail are
appropriate to an audience of engineers (engineers
who specialize in the paper’s field and engineers
who do not ) and other professionals
Within the Conference Paper: applications of
topic-related engineering, science, technologies
 are clearly depicted and fully explained (e.g.:
authors explain how an innovative road resurfacing
material can or will be used; authors explain the kinds
of roads/environments/settings for which this material
is appropriate; authors explain, in detail, why this
material best for this application)
 If needed for maximum clarity and authority, an
example or examples (actual and/or hypothetical)
of the application (s)
 are included in the paper
 are concrete and fully described/detailed (e.g.:
authors describe and evaluate an actual road that has
been resurfaced with the innovative material, or, if the
material is still in the research stages, authors clearly
explain how the material will work on a particular
kind of road under particular circumstances)
Within the Conference paper: all topic-related
technologies (and related products, applications,
outcomes)
are
clearly
and
responsibly
contextualized and evaluated
 importance to society-at-large, to engineering, and,
possibly, to particular individuals is clearly
explained
 evaluations of processes and outcomes are
supported by appropriate quantitative detail (e.g.:
specific cost comparisons; specific numbers of
x
x
x
x
x
9
Proficient
Passable, but
not Optimally
Informative or
Functional
Substandard
Failing
Ryan Ronczka
Jonathan Klan
patients using a prosthetic; specific span of time a
material or device will optimally perform; specific
units of energy or elements—for example, KWHs,
BTUs, CO2)
 evaluations of processes and outcomes are
supported by appropriate explanation (e.g.: if a
prosthetic hand is evaluated as optimal or successful,
authors fully depict and explain the attributes that
make this prosthetic “optimal” or “successful”)
Every section of the paper
 is fully developed (including the paper’s
introduction and conclusion); every section includes
all clarifying descriptions and explanations, and,
where relevant, clarifying examples and/or
responsible evaluation
Connections/Correlations
 are clearly established and maintained within and
among sections; information throughout the paper is
specifically reconnected to the paper’s stated
topic/focus; processes/technologies are specifically
connected to applications and examples; evaluations
and outcomes are specifically connected to supporting
details; etc.
Research/source
information
(quotations,
paraphrases, summaries, data, pictures, diagrams
tables, charts, graphs)
 is used effectively throughout the Conf. Paper to
maximize clarity and impact of descriptions,
explanations, examples, and evaluations
 authors clearly identify the origin/authority of
research information;
research information is
effectively integrated, and contextualized: authors
clarify how/why source information is important
within sections and to the paper topic as-a-whole
 authors use citation numbers effectively within the
paper to designate where source material (quotations,
paraphrases, and summaries) begins and ends
ALL citations
 are included for all material quoted, paraphrased
and summarized from sources (including pictures,
data, diagrams, charts, tables, and equations)
ALL citations
 are correctly numbered in-text; all in-text numbers
correctly correspond to numbers in the sources
section; all bibliographic information is accurate
and correctly formatted
Title, headings, subheadings
 preview and reinforce topic, content, and
connections
 ALL format specifications have been met
Correct and Proofread
 grammar and punctuation are correct; sentence
structure is correct and effective; paragraphs are
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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Ryan Ronczka
Jonathan Klan
effectively delineated; vocabulary/word choice is
correct/accurate/appropriate
 paper has been proofread
Grade: 93 A
100, 99/A+ 98-93/A 92-90/A- 89-87/B+ 86-81/B 80-78/B- 77-75/C+ 74-69/C 68-66/C- 65/D 64 and below/F
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