An accident occurred on a droneship when the Falcon 9 rocket B1058 of SpaceX, which had been utilized on the first crewed journey to space in the year 2020, had a fall. During the return voyage that it took after launching the Starlink Group 6-32 mission, Just Read The Instructions was in operation. The booster was thrown over as a result of the turbulent seas and strong winds. A discussion on what should happen to the historic booster was spurred by the occurrence, which took place within the spaceflight community.
The demise of the B1058 has caused a rift within the spaceflight community.
Not just because of its historical significance, but also because of its one-of-a-kind design that incorporates NASA’s Worm emblem, the B1058 booster that SpaceX has developed has garnered a lot of interest. This was the 19th successful launch and landing of the rocket, which took place during its most recent mission, the Starlink Group 6-32. On the other hand, the booster toppled over on the Just Read The Instructions droneship during its return journey because of the poor weather circumstances.
The Controversy: On Display in a Museum or in a Graveyard?
A disagreement has arisen among members of the spaceflight community on what will happen to the historic booster as a result of the mishap. There are others who believe that the B1058 rocket ought to have been kept and displayed in a museum, just like other rockets that have been instrumental in the United States space program through the years. The utilization of these rockets as instructional and motivational instruments for future generations is a key purpose. B1058 is one of the only four Falcon 9 boosters that are now on display, and it is maintained that it should be included among them because it was used on the DM-2 aircraft.
On the other hand, there are many who believe that rockets are machines that are designed to defy the gravity of the earth. Due to the fact that B1058 is so old, it has become an extremely significant source of flight data. SpaceX has pushed the boundaries of booster reuse. Since SpaceX is a privately held firm, it is within its rights to determine what it will do with its rockets. In the event that a booster is capable of being reused, it ought to be done so, and after its lifespan is over, it ought to be buried in either a fiery or watery grave.
Final Thoughts
People in the spaceflight world are having a conversation about what will happen to the vintage booster B1058 that SpaceX has constructed. Despite the fact that there are those who believe it ought to have been preserved in a museum, there are others who emphasize the significance of pushing the limits of booster reuse and collecting extremely useful flight data. It is ultimately up to SpaceX to make the decision, and it is not yet clear how future rockets will be handled once their missions have been successfully completed.