SpaceX is a corporation founded by business tycoon Elon Musk. SpaceX’s goals are to make space travel a reality for citizens as well as eventually begin the colonization of Mars. SpaceX is unique because it is a privately funded company, meaning that ultimately citizens and not governments control its future.
Spacex uses a liquid fuel rocket series known as “Falcon”. The most recent Falcon to be launched is Falcon 9.
In order to break Earth’s gravity, the rocket must have enough potential energy stored in its fuel to travel at 7 miles a second. This causes lots of extra mass to be added to the rocket so instead of using a bulkier solid fuel. A liquid fuel such as liquid hydrogen burns hotter and cleaner than a solid fuel, making it more powerful and efficient, albeit more expensive and mechanically complex.
When the rocket burns fuel, it turns the potential energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is then funneled out of a small opening on the back of the rocket, called a nozzle. The force is concentrated into a small area which directly sends all the energy to the back of the rocket, causing it to move forwards. This process continues until the fuel is expended.
SpaceX is a glimpse into the future of space travel. Prior to SpaceX, NASA and the Soviet Space Program were the only entities with enough money and technology to develop spaceflight technology. Eventually, more companies will arise to compete with SpaceX, such as Virgin Galactic, although SpaceX is seeing far more success in their endeavors. It will be interesting to see where their projects lead them in five, ten, twenty or even fifty years from now and we should look on with amazement and anticipation.
Additional sources used:
http://homepages.sover.net/~sbjohn/chemistry/chemx/solidvsliquid.html
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_Escape_Velocity_prt.htm
http://www.esa.int/Education/Solid_and_liquid_fuel_rockets4