Question

Both Space X and Blue Origin are pioneering reusable first stage rockets in launching payloads to earth orbit. what are the advantageous of reusability? Thinking about the rocket equation, do you see any disadvantages of restarting the first stage engine (after 2nd stage ignites and places the payload into orbit) and doing a powered descent of the first stage back to earth?

Answer 1

Reusable rocket is important because it reduces the cost of launching satellites and objects into space also it reduces the time period between two launches.

Launching a rocket and discarding it just after one flight, I just like discarding an aeroplane after a single flight trip, if this is so in case of air travel then air travel will not be economically viable.

So reusability is solution that is necessary to march into the next stage of space exploration specially like resource exploration and making humanity an interplanetary specie.

Disadvantages of reigniting and power descent:

It requires additional fuel that is not used for the intended purpose of propulsion of the space launch object.

It makes the left off weight more heavier and reduces the payload carrying capacity of the rocket.