SpaceX Gearing Up for Busy 2017; 4 Critical Missions Lined Up Starting With Feb. 18, 2017 Launch

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SpaceX is lining up 4 critical missions in 2017 beginning with the Feb. 18 launch to carry supplies for NASA to the International Space Station. The company is also aiming to increase the number of launches which could help the company's plans to colonize Mars in the future.

According to LA Times, after the NASA re-resupply mission, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, is gearing up 3 more critical missions including re-launching of the previously used first-stage rocket, the first launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket, and an unmanned test flight of the Space capsule.

This increase in rocket launches means SpaceX can refine its techniques in launching and recovering the first stage rockets. In a report by Space, the company is going to use the new pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after it becomes online next week.

A staff report to the board of commissioners states that the company headed by Elon Musk plans to use the additional areas to "more safely and efficiently conduct its rocket recovery operations." The launch pad to be used by SpaceX was previously utilized by the Apollo moon missions.

The renovated launch pad will be used to launch the Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy. The Falcon Heavy is set to make its maiden flight this year. The Falcon Heavy is designed to be the most powerful rocket in the world.

In an interview with Reuters, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said that they plan to launch the Falcon 9 rockets every two to three weeks. This flurry of launches comes after the Falcon 9 rocket exploded on its launch pad during a routine test last year.

According to our previous report, SpaceX Falcon 9 performed a flawless launch and successful delivery of Iridium Communications Inc.'s satellites last Jan. 14, 2017. SpaceX still has a contract with Iridium to put more satellites into orbit through 2018.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch the first unmanned flight test of the capsule that will be used to carry astronauts to the space station in Nov. 2017. The manned test flight is scheduled in May 2018.