For the better part of five decades, commercial access to space has been limited by the high cost of flight operations. However, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has rewritten the rules by adopting a new business model and cutting-edge technologies to enhance reliability and reduce the cost of space access.

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy (currently under development) will be the world’s most powerful rocket, with more than twice the payload-to-orbit capacity of the space shuttle, but at only one-third the cost. It is expected to be the first rocket to break the $1,000-per-pound-to-orbit barrier, less than a tenth as much as the NASA space shuttle.

Adopting advanced composite materials

One significant way SpaceX decided to enhance the performance of its Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule was by adopting advanced composite materials. As composites have received growing acceptance in a variety of industries, including aerospace, the space industry has taken note. SpaceX was no exception. It recognized that composites could significantly enhance performance by improving the strength-to-weight ratio of the materials used to construct its spacecraft.

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