RMIT experts available for comment on historic SpaceX rocket launch

Dr Graham Dorrington (0447 003 607 or graham.dorrington@rmit.edu.au)

Topics: space exploration, benefits of space technology for Australia, space launch

“For nearly a decade, NASA has lacked any means of launching astronauts into orbit from the USA.

“On the morning of 31 May, the private company, SpaceX, run by Elon Musk will be attempting to launch two brave astronauts for the first time in a capsule called Dragon on the Falcon 9 reusable rocket.

“If all goes well, the crew will rendezvous with the International Space Station, the largest and most expensive aerospace craft ever built, which flies over Australia every day.

"We have waited 38 years for an all-new launcher design capable of transporting humans to orbit. It's not yet clear that this system and its commercial mode of operation will offer major cost reductions and reliability improvements.

"If fully successful, however, this launch could represent a watershed event leading to a new era of international space exploration." 

Dr Graham Dorrington is a senior lecturer in Aerospace Engineering and Aviation at RMIT. He obtained his PhD focused on the theme of space transportation from Cambridge University, UK. He is an alumnus of the International Space University, has held a research fellowship at the European Space Agency (ESTEC) and previously worked at British Aerospace Space and Comms division. He has published several journal and space conference papers on astronautical engineering concepts.

Professor Cees Bil (0423 200 498 or cees.bil@rmit.edu.au)

Topics: Apollo 11 moon landing, space flight, space exploration, spacecraft and launch vehicles

“At the occasion of the landing of the last Space Shuttle flight in 2011, with SpaceX Demo-2 astronaut Doug Hurley onboard, then US President Barack Obama said: “The last space shuttle launch ends one era but opens another.” 

“That new era starts on Sunday when SpaceX launches its SpaceX Demo-2 mission with two astronauts onboard the Dragon capsule, marking the return to US human space flight.

“The Falcon/Dragon design is not only a leap forward in technology, but also a new business paradigm with commercial launch service providers competing for business.”

Professor Cees Bil is an aerospace engineer and an aerospace system design expert at RMIT University. His field of research is transdisciplinary design of complex systems, aerospace vehicle design optimisation and operations.

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