The allure of a private set of wheels is hard to InventHelp resist for most folks, but few can resist the charm of a launch into space with a launch vehicle that belongs to none other than former Formula 1 driver, elon Musk. The commercial entity which carried out the mission was Virgin Galactic, with the collaboration of Musk's SpaceX. While not directly related to the founder of one of the most famous space explorations in history, SpaceX has nevertheless established itself as an important partner in the emerging commercial space industry. What is it aboutSpaceX that makes it so compelling to the eyes of potential private space flight participants and investors?

First off, SpaceX has a highly experimental vehicle which is only currently in service. It is the first time in over 40 years that this type of vehicle has been used for operational purposes. In other words, it is brand new. While SpaceX will utilize much of the same components that it uses on operational vehicles, it is also designing a revolutionary "fly in only" system, which will enable the company to make the modifications that it desires without needing to rely on a host agency.

To understand why SpaceX is so keen on fly in only vehicles, it is imperative to understand the motivation behind their design. They have determined that it is necessary to minimize the amount of vehicle wear and tear and to maximize the efficiency with which they are able to launch and land their launches. For most companies, these requirements are the same. However, SpaceX goes a step further by insisting that each launch must be accompanied by at least two successful fly-in flights. Each flight must also be accompanied by at least one successful landing, to validate the system's ability to meet performance objectives. For obvious reasons, these requirements take precise engineering and logistical care to meet, and are quite demanding of the launching party.

By limiting the number of launches that need to occur to meet launch goals, SpaceX can place an entire load of pressure on the manufacturer to deliver a superior product to the launch site. They have designed their vehicle to launch at a maximum of one per year, with the potential for many more if things work out as they hope. If all goes as planned, this will greatly reduce the costs associated with launching vehicle, allowing them to concentrate on making sure the vehicle itself goes off without a hitch. This approach has led to significant savings on overall commodity prices, as the risk associated with any one launch is significantly reduced. It also reduces the financial risk that the company must bear, as they won't have to pay to repair or replace the expensive launch vehicles.

There are also a lot of savings available to the manufacturer through economies of scale. Rather than making individual designs for each piece of equipment, they have a single standardized design for everything, saving money on materials and labor. This allows them to make more of every piece of equipment, including components such as engines and landing gears. The result is an almost monolithic design, with each part matching the others. This leads to far less manual labor, translating directly into lower costs to the end consumer.

Of course, this isn't the only way that Musk has increased the efficiency of reusable launch vehicle technology. In fact, the biggest change has probably been in the way that workers are trained to assemble the vehicles. While the design has remained largely unchanged, the manner in which materials are supplied to the various components has changed dramatically. Rather than having workers attach parts to a frame that has already been made, they now assemble the vehicle piece-by-piece. This allows each component to be attached more accurately and securely, leading to vehicles that are much sturdier and more reliable. This has led to an increase in the vehicle's safety, as well.

The design team that worked on the RSVP launch pad also took advantage of advances in thermal protection. There's now a nearly enclosed system where heat can be kept out, reducing both the time and the expense of repairing an accident site. In addition, some RSVP launch pads have also been outfitted with acoustic dampeners. These are designed to reduce the noise caused by an ICBM's motor, significantly reducing the chances of damage or failure from such sound. While not a cure-all, these features will definitely help prevent accidents.

And yet, perhaps the most important thing that Musk did was to refocus his attention on the actual use of the ICBM. The biggest problem with ICBM launches is their sheer size relative to a small satellite or rocket. A full-size rocket launched on pad only requires one engine burn for it to complete its flight, whereas a small satellite or small reusable launch vehicle needs three. While this may seem like a problem, Musk realized that it could actually make the entire process safer. By streamlining the entire process, there's far less risk of "pre-flight" failure, and this greatly reduced the chance of a potential accident. As a result, this has meant that Musk's companies have been able to dramatically reduce the costs associated with ICBM development and launch.