Talk:SpaceX reusable launch system development program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:38, 28 October 2019

Revision as of 05:12, 29 October 2019

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{{WP:Good article reassessment/SpaceX reusable launch system development program/1}}

== Rename article? ==

Given that the system has now been used for a real mission, is it perhaps time to rename this article to "[[SpaceX reusable launch system]]"? Certainly, development is continuing, as SpaceX works to reduce costs and turnaround times, and to make even more parts of the system resusable, but the system is now no longer purely in an R&D phase; it exists, and is operational. -- [[User:The Anome|The Anome]] ([[User talk:The Anome|talk]]) 09:08, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

:SpaceX has indeed reached a key milestone in their drive towards full reusability, but that's not a reason to rename this article, which documents their R&D process. The resulting operational system is described at [[Falcon 9 Full Thrust]], [[Falcon 9 Block 5]], [[Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship]], [[Landing Zone 1]], [[SpaceX]] and probably other pages. Meanwhile R&D activities continue: half a fairing was recovered, there is work to enable fast "refuel and relaunch" turnaround, and just this weekend Musk mused about trying to enable recovery of the second stage. Plus some ITS work would come here too. All in all, more reasons to keep the page as a description of reusability R&D efforts. — [[User:JFG|JFG]] ^{[[User talk:JFG|talk]]} 02:25, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

::Agree with [[User:JFG|JFG]]. This article is an encyclopedic description of the overall development program to achieve this significant advancement in human technology. Took years, broad vision, and the overall technology advancement here is much larger than any particular reusable launch system. This is about a set of ''multiple'' technologies--in engines; materials science; guidance, navigation and control; hypersonic ==> subsonic atmospheric flight controls; business; private incentives; competition; interdisciplanary systems development; etc.--being used on ''multiple'' reusable launch systems: Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and the Interplanetary Transport System. Not even all of the technologies used/tried/engineered/iterated and experimented with even made it to the final system in use in F9 today, let alone what will be developed for the next-generation interplanetary launch vehicles and spacecraft.

:: Having said that, there may one day be room (or need) for an article on some particular current reusable launch system, that would not have all the encyclopedic breadth of this article. That's fine, when the need arises. But this article's scope would be misrepresented by re-titling it as proposed. [[User:N2e|N2e]] ([[User talk:N2e|talk]]) 19:53, 20 April 2017 (UTC)

== External links modified ==