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Original title: What is the cost of space travel for the test flight of the interstellar spacecraft SpaceX to explode again? Source: CCTV News Client
On March 3 local time, the American space exploration company SpaceX’s prototype interstellar spacecraft SN10 exploded after a test flight and landed. This is the third time the spacecraft has exploded during a test flight.
From “Mars Oasis” to “Interstellar Spaceship”
In 2001, Elon Musk had the whim to build a “Martian Oasis”, planning to launch a greenhouse on Mars and farm. Unable to afford a rocket, Max decided to set up SpaceX to build his own rocket and realize his dream.
△ Musk and SpaceXIn the more than ten years since its establishment, SpaceX has built a low-cost launch vehicle and made rapid progress in the commercial aerospace field: in 2008, it successfully launched the Falcon 1 liquid-fueled orbital rocket; In 2012, the Tianlong spacecraft began delivering cargo to the International Space Station; In 2015, the Falcon 9 carrier rocket successfully landed and recovered, refreshing the history of human space …
Musk once said, “I want to retire on Mars”, this idea can really come true. SpaceX is developing a super-heavy carrier rocket and spacecraft system called “Starship,” which will be used for manned flights around the moon, to Mars, and other space exploration.
The repeatedly frustrated “Space Rhapsody”
△Conceptual image of the interstellar spacecraft SpaceX beta(Image source: Musk’s social media)On January 6, 2019, SpaceX exhibited the mimicry of the interstellar spacecraft for the first time. Since then, the company has been testing prototypes of the spacecraft, but the process has not gone smoothly.
△ SpaceX plans to have about 20 prototypes tested before the spacecraft is finally formed, with all iterations to be completed in 3 years.In November 2019, the first-generation MK1 full-scale prototype failed the pressure test, and subsequent models were withdrawn without testing; Going into 2020, the new SN1 model exploded in the pressure test and all four models subsequently failed; 2020 in August, SN5 completed a 150-meter hover test, but the next SN8 and SN9 exploded during the test flight.
△ The SN10 prototype rocket is on the Boca Chica Company launch pad in Texas (Image source: SpaceX）The haze of failure hung over SpaceX’s “Space Rhapsody.” Although CEO Musk firmly believes that the interstellar spacecraft will reach a level of safety that can carry people in 2023, the US media said that SpaceX has a long way to go before it can build a usable spacecraft.
Space travel becomes a game for the rich at a high cost
The obstacles SpaceX faces include not only technical difficulties, but also high research and development costs, with each launch failure costing hundreds of millions of dollars. In January 2019, SpaceX announced the layoff of 10% of its employees and cut costs for the development of interstellar spacecraft and other projects. Musk previously estimated that full development of the interstellar spacecraft will cost around $ 5 billion.
Musk once said that “ordinary people will make the dream of space travel come true,” but the high cost can only be affordable for the wealthy.
△ A simulation diagram of a SpaceX interstellar spaceship landing on the moonAccording to the agreement signed by SpaceX and NASA, the cost of transporting an astronaut to the International Space Station is $ 55 million, which does not include the cost of training for ordinary people.
SpaceX announced on February 19 that it will complete humanity’s first commercial space travel by the end of this year, at a cost of more than US $ 100 million. The company said they have a source of high net worth individuals from around the world, many of whom are interested in space flight.
△ Maezawa Yusaku announced on Twitter on the 3rd that he would invite 8 people to join his trip to the moon for free.Japanese e-commerce giant Maesawa Yusaku is the interstellar spacecraft’s first chartered passenger and will fly around the moon on the spacecraft in 2023. Authorities did not disclose the cost of this trip. Space Adventures, a private space travel agency, estimates that the price of flying to the moon is at least double that of flying to the International Space Station, and can exceed $ 120 million.
In addition to traveling around the moon, SpaceX has also launched space travel services such as flying around the earth and going to the International Space Station. Many super rich people, including American real estate entrepreneur Conner and Canadian investor Passy, paid tens of millions of dollars to book these services.
△ SpaceX spacesuit (Image source: SpaceX)As humanity’s exploration of the universe continues to deepen, more and more people want to try space tourism. Morgan Stanley predicts that the scale of the space tourism industry will grow to $ 1 trillion by 2040.
The prospects for commercial space travel are bright, but there isn’t much time left for SpaceX. A day before the explosion of the SN10 spacecraft prototype, Maezawa Yusaku recruited 8 people on Twitter to take part in a trip around the moon, but it is still unknown if they can depart as scheduled two years later.
Producer 丨 Tang Yi
Producer 丨 Zhao Xinyu
Editor-in-chief 丨 Cui Chong
Editor 丨 Wang Yao
