SpaceX headed to the ISS tomorrow

Post by rst » Sat, May 19, 2012, 4:36 PM UTC

davidcuddeback wrote: post #73

InclinedPlane wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, let's take the Shuttle off the table, which is no longer in service and was by far the most expensive launch vehicle in extensive service in history. Right now, the price of a Falcon 9 launch is around $50mil, this translates to $4.8/g to LEO or $16.7/g to GTO (which is where most satellites go). This compares very favorably to the price of other western launchers (Atlas V: $18/g, Ariane 5: $21/g, Delta IV: $1…

I think the maiden flight of the Falcon Heavy is slated for this year: http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm With the way launches tend to slip, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right about it happening next year, but as of right now, it's on Vandenberg's launch schedule for 2012.