Last week SpaceX successfully launched and landed a Falcon 9 rocket upright on a converted launch pad in Cape Canaveral. The feat was the first time a conventional rocket returned to Earth intact after transporting payloads into orbit.
With Elon Musk’s ability to now launch reusable rockets, other countries are looking to make their own aerospace projects cheaper. In particular, Russia is struggling to preserve its share of the market, according to the country’s defense-industry chief.
“The main goal today is to make space cheap,” Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Rossiya 24 TV in an interview on Wednesday in Moscow. “Competitors are stepping on our toes. Look at what billionaire Musk is doing with his projects. This is very interesting, well done, and we treat this work with respect.”
Bloomberg reports that Russia’s space industry has been hit by under-financing and a drain of competent engineers and scientists after the fall of the Soviet Union. In addition, a series of failed Russian space launches in recent years have put a damper on the program.
What measures must Russia and other nations take to keep up with SpaceX? Comment below or tweet @kaylieannduffy.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense