Cutting Space Travel Costs With Reusable Engines

The cost of launching rockets into space has been a problematic spending issue in Washington as well as a major barrier to the introduction of commercial space travel, but new ways of reusing the rocket engines that propel spacecraft could help cut costs and move the industry forward.

Boeing Inc. BA, Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT and Space Exploration Technology Corp (SpaceX) are all battling it out to become the first company to introduce a cost effective method for space travel.

Relying On Helicopters

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have joined forces to create new rockets that boast reusable engines.

The company's latest design features new engines that detach mid air and are retrieved by helicopters for future uses. The company claims its vision could be possible as early as 2024.

SpaceX Already Testing

However, Elon Musk's SpaceX is working on a similar project and has already begun testing its effectiveness. The company is hoping to preserve the detached boosters using additional engines that guide the machinery to a soft landing on a barge in the Atlantic ocean.

On Tuesday, Musk tweeted that the new system narrowly failed initial tests, with the engines making it to the barge but landing to hard to be reused.

Related Link: 3D Printers Take On Mars

Fighting For Government Contracts

While cost cutting is a major challenge for those who hope to bring commercial space travel to the public in the coming years, it has also been a sticking point for Congress in its ongoing budget battles.

While Lockheed and Boeing have long held a monopoly on government contracts regarding space travel, SpaceX has slowly made its way to the forefront of rocket science.

SpaceX has been fighting for a government contract for years, saying that its offerings would significantly reduce government spending on space travel.

Now, with reusable rockets looking like the next big advancement in space travel, the race is on for who can create a usable model first.

Posted In: Wall Street JournalTop StoriesMarketsTechMediaElon MuskSpaceX
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Loading...