I am someone who has always had a fascination with space, galaxies, and life beyond Earth. However, some articles make it difficult to understand what is happening during a launch, why astronauts have been sent out of the atmosphere, and what comes out of the recent launch.
There are companies that strive to have audiences be engaged in aerospace technology, science, and research being conducted within space. Companies like SpaceX are leading in today’s manufacturing of rockets, and spacecraft all the while showing audiences all they have been working on.
SpaceX is an aerospace company that designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.
Since their start in 2002, SpaceX has been showing audiences their work in creating spacecraft and their methods of execution over videos on YouTube. Each of their videos discuss what the company is doing, why they plan their missions and explain every step they take from launch to touchdown on Earth.
Most recently on Nov. 15, the company launched four astronauts into space heading to the International Space Station where they will stay until the Spring. The four astronauts are Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi. Each have degrees within the aerospace fields and have been on flights previously.
It was a historic launch for many reasons. The flight took place during a pandemic and it is the first four-person crew ever on any capsule and commercial spacecraft. Walker is the first woman on a commercial orbital spacecraft. Noguchi is the first international partner crew member on crew dragon; he is also the first international partner to fly on three different types of orbital spacecraft, those being the U.S. space shuttle, the Russian Soyuz, and now the third SpaceX dragon.
Glover is the first black astronaut to fly on a commercial spacecraft and the first black long-duration crew member to live aboard the international space station. Hopkins is the first flight test engineer to command an American spacecraft.
All of this information about the crew, more details on the spacecraft, and procedures were given to viewers of the launch from their live stream on YouTube, which is still available for viewing.
As one of those viewers, it was an incredible experience. Not only was I able to see what was happening from multiple, different angles, but each step of the process was also explained. How the launch was a joint collaboration with NASA, two teams constantly looking at weather, checking systems, giving interesting fun facts, and giving explanations as to why things have been set the way they are.
Not only does SpaceX bring historic launches for space exploration but they also have launches to bring internet access to those on Earth by engineers creating high-tech satellites. They call this program Starlink.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX providing satellite Internet access. The constellation will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit, working in combination with ground transceivers.
The aerospace company is continuing to make leaps and bounds in many different directions surrounding today’s fast-moving technology. SpaceX has its own website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts so that people worldwide can gain access to their activities which they are constantly updating.
SpaceX is the future of aerospace technology with its improvements to rockets, spacecraft, satellites, even the reuse of rockets. They lead not only with high-tech but also with the platform to teach others about amazing missions taking place all year round.
KJ