Comments on: SpaceX expanding facilities in Florida for refurbishing used first stages

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 22:26:34 +0000

LocalFluff asked: “What’s the situation with the different versions? Will they re-fly anything lesser than ‘Full Thrust’?”

My understanding is that only Full Thrust versions were recovered. The Full Thrust version started flying in December of 2015, which is when they first successfully landed a Falcon 9. Thus, there is nothing prior to the Full Thrust version to re-fly.

I cannot remember where I read or heard it, but SpaceX expects that the current version of the Falcon 9 is only suitable to fly three times, yet their next — and last — version, the Block 5, is expected to last a dozen flights.

By: LocalFluff

LocalFluff — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 06:46:42 +0000

What’s the situation with the different versions? Will they re-fly anything lesser than “Full Thrust”?

By: Robert Zimmerman

Robert Zimmerman — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 03:01:28 +0000

In reply to Edward. Edward: You are correct. My main point is that SpaceX's supply of used first stages is growing, and they need to use them to make the whole process cost effective.

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:46:53 +0000

Robert,
My recollection is that the Falcon 9 used in the May 6th 2016 launch underwent extreme stress on reentry, and SpaceX said that they would not refly it but examine the effects of the extreme stress on the rocket.
http://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/status-of-the-third-recovered-falcon-9-first-stage/