Quoted post unavailable.
Judging by the shuttle era and our lack of ability to even launch Americans into space for the last decade thanks to failed programs that have come since, I think it’s a matter of how much worse this program would be.
Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
71–80 of 305 posts
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
You don't need to imagine - just look up the SLS program and it's budget + timeframe
And the fact it will cost about 10x as much compared to SpaceX rockets to deliver something to orbit. SLS is a total failure.
Depends on what you consider it's mission objective. If you consider it a jobs program that we happen to get a rocket out of, it's an astounding success. If you consider it a rocket program it's an abject failure.
To give you an example of why it's a jobs program and not a rocket program. Congress forced NASA to build a multimillion dollar testing facility they never intended to use for the SLS nor for any other rocket NASA has.
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#73Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#74Quoted post unavailable.
You don't need to imagine - just look up the SLS program and it's budget + timeframe
The point you are trying to make is that that government is unlikely to succeed in terms of timeframe or budget, and that is probably true. Yet, your argument doesn't support that point. SLS is also a project that is built by private corporations. SLS vs Falcon Heavy is simply a battle between two different government contractors. One is not more government-based than the other.
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#75When does/do the research/space programs enabled by these more frequent launches start to benefit us all? It must have already contributed to something somehow. Agriculture? Defense? Oil exploration? Seems like the sort of information that's hard to find.
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Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are different classes of launch vehicles. This payload is not really a good one for starship, and conversely, starlinks will never fly on heavy
Yes, it's really odd to see a GEO launch rather than a GTO at launch. GTO is a geosynchronous transfer orbit with apogee at GEO and perigee at LEO that uses the satellite's thrusters to circularize to full GEO. Starship can't do a GEO directly, it would need refueling or a kick stage to do GEO. Since we really don't know why the Space Force wanted direct GEO we can't know for sure if refueling or a kick stage would h…
They wanted to use it before Xmas to keep an eye on Ukraine, and they didn't want to have to wait?
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#77Possibly the most expensive thing in the world with a publicly listed price ($97M) and sales contact (sales@spacex.com)? https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf Just find that amusingly 'accessible'.
Boeing lists aircraft prices for commercial planes: https://www.boeing.com/company/about-bca/#/prices
(Although they note that the actual price may vary by configuration, so I guess it's not as "pure" of a list price compared to SpaceX).
The highest there is $442.2 million. I wonder if there are any list prices out there higher than that?
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#78Quoted post unavailable.
It's pretty amazing and makes me feel proud that in our country, America, there are several private individuals and companies who are capable of launching rockets into space (it's not just Mr Musk), despite the fact that in other countries, this is something that requires massive government support. America's private-sector is heads and shoulders more advanced than many foreign governments. That's amazing to see.
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#79When does/do the research/space programs enabled by these more frequent launches start to benefit us all? It must have already contributed to something somehow. Agriculture? Defense? Oil exploration? Seems like the sort of information that's hard to find.
One benefit is the connectivity provided by Starlink to Ukraine's front line defending forces. Which, amongst other things, increases the quality of reconnaissance, tempo of battle, and should translate to fewer defender and civilian casualties.
The long term effects of a more rapid Ukrainian victory (and a dramatic Russian defeat) are difficult to estimate.
Re: Falcon Heavy Launch [video]
#80Quoted post unavailable.
You mean ULA and Boing? Costs usually 5 times as much and takes three times as long to develop it, if it works at all in the end.
Why the jealousy about people getting good money for good work?