The Magic of a Shuttle Launch
SpaceX’s Dragon is a reminder of what humanity can achieve.
On the 28th of May, I watched astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley being launched into space.
I wasn’t alone. Current estimates put peak viewership at over 10 million people. At the time of writing, the recording of the Launch America live stream has garnered over 18 million views, making it the most viewed rocket launch of all time.
These numbers are encouraging. As a proponent of large scale scientific endeavours, it is reassuring to know that people will still turn out en masse to witness a rocket launch, particularly since most were first-time viewers — a generation newly introduced to the magic of spaceflight.
Of course, this was no normal mission. Behnken and Hurley were to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), which in itself is nothing special. However they were to get there, aboard a brand new shuttle, the Dragon.
The Dragon is a revolutionary spacecraft. Capable of carrying up to seven passengers and returning large amounts of cargo to Earth. What’s more, the capsule is reusable. Nine of the Dragon’s twenty-three missions have been flown using a pre-used capsule.
This tech is unlikely to be the cause of the large turn out, however.
This mission marked the first launch of astronauts from US soil in nearly a decade. Since 2011, the US has been sending astronauts to the ISS via the Russian Soyuz programme, to the tune of $80 million dollars per person.
It is what enabled this feat that made the Dragon’s launch truly historic. The mission was a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, making it the first commercial manned mission to the ISS.
Launch Day
The event was a wondrous mash up of tradition and futurism.
The astronauts observed familiar traditions: scrambled eggs and steak for breakfast, a photograph with the administrator, playing poker with the technicians and a saccharine rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
On the way to the launch pad, AC/DC’s Back in Black played on the stereo a throwback to decades past.
All of this clashed sharply against SpaceX’s design philosophy. Sleek, clean and modern.
The white, custom designed spacesuits of the two astronauts contrasted against the all black uniforms of the launch technicians. The iconic bubble of a space helmet replaced with a snug fitting visor.
The Dragon too is a monument to modernism. It’s monochrome interior more reminiscent of a sports car than a space shuttle. Out with analogue buttons, switches and joysticks; in with an array of digital touchscreens and friendly user interfaces.
And in case you might have forgotten who was responsible for all this, the astronauts were transported to launch pad in a Tesla Model X.
The message being conveyed was simple:
The Old God’s are dead.
Elon Musk has killed them.
To put it in the words of the day’s commentators: "This is a new era of human space travel.”
It would be easy to write off such claims as cynical corporate hype, but don’t be too hasty.
If the commercialisation of human spaceflight is successful it will kick the rate technological advance into hyper-drive. The commercialisation of computing technology in the 1970s led to an exponential increase in performance at a much decreased cost (see Moore’s law). As such, it is not unreasonable to assume that the commercialisation of human spaceflight will also lead to exponential gains.
Admittedly, we cannot know the state of such technology in forty years time. However, if we consider the digital revolution as a case study, the idea of humans on Mars, even within the decade, does not seem so far fetched. On the day of the launch at least, it all felt within reach.
As the clock ticks down, excitement takes over. Feelings of hope and unity conflict with the thrill of fear and a sense of danger. Humanity is resilient yet fragile. Advanced yet primitive. The most important species in the universe is utterly insignificant. The human paradox is captured in a moment.
“Five…
Four…
Three…
Two…
One…
Zero… Ignition… Lift off of Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon. Go NASA. Go SpaceX. God Speed to Bob and Doug!”
The rocket launches into the air, uncannily slow, ploughing towards the edge of our atmosphere. In a minute it is supersonic. In two it is out of sight. The launch was a success and we are returned to our mundane lives.
A New Era
Regardless of whether or not the commercialisation of space flight is a success, there is one more reason to take heart.
Within those ten million viewers there are thousands of inspired minds. In years to come, mathematicians, engineers and scientists of all flavours will cite this launch as source of inspiration.
That is the true magic of a shuttle launch.
Humanity faces numerous existential threats. It is the duty of our scientists and engineers, both present and future, to provide solutions. Their work is endless, and we often take it for granted. Sometimes it takes a spectacle for us to realise that.
If you enjoyed this piece, please consider reading some of Thom’s other writing on the subject of space:
If you’re interested, you can watch a full recording of the livestream here.
