[ad_1]
While commercial spaceflight occupies an increasingly important place in the world of space exploration, the technology of companies like SpaceX is recognized as worthy of being preserved for public display. Soon, visitors to Space Center Houston will be able to see one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, used twice for missions commissioned by NASA.
The Falcon 9 is remarkable for being reusable. The core to be exhibited was first launched on June 3, 2017 for a replenishment mission of the International Space Station. After the first leg successfully landed at Cape Canaveral, it was used six months later for a second mission carrying a Dragon capsule to the station on December 15, 2017.
It will be one of only two Falcon 9 boosters on public display and it will be the first time that a commercial exhibition will be presented at NASA's Space Center in Houston. It demonstrates the role of private companies in space exploration through NASA partnerships.
"One of the things we wanted to do here is to interpret the history of the space program, but also to interpret for the public what is happening now and what we will do in the future," said William Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston, told collectSPACE. "Because of NASA's relationship with the commercial sector to support the International Space Station and other missions, I felt that we really needed to start interpreting that as well."
The Falcon 9 is an impressive size, 41 meters high and 3.6 meters in diameter. Even empty of loading and fuel, it weighs 27 tons, and when it was full of propellant, it weighed 438 tons.
To display the kernel, it will be placed horizontally and elevated at a height of 10 meters (14 feet) in height, allowing visitors to walk under it and see it up close. The visualization video published by the Houston Space Center shows a grassy area outside with curved paths beneath the rocket supported by pillars.
The goal is for the exhibition to be installed later this summer. If you want to see this part of SpaceX history for yourself, you can start planning your trip to Houston.
[ad_2]
Source link