Race to Space
The race to make space more affordable, relatively speaking, took another step forward recently when the SpaceX Falcon I launch vehicle tested its first stage engines on the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California (read an article here).
The privately funded reusable
rocket was developed by South African and co-founder of
PayPal, Elon Musk. As CEO of SpaceX, Musk is developing two
rockets, the Falcon I and V. The FI, at a price of about $6
million USD, has a low earth orbit lift capability of 670kg
while the FV, costing about $16 million, can reach escape
velocity while lifting 6,000 kg.