SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#2Can this eventually carry people into orbit, I wonder?
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#3Can this eventually carry people into orbit, I wonder?
Yes.
https://twitter.com/spacexer/status/55291286919454720
> Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are designed to meet all published NASA standards to carry crew.
(disclaimer: you must weigh less than 53 metric tons)
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#4Can this eventually carry people into orbit, I wonder?
Both the Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy are planned to carry humans to orbit. In fact, the 2nd ever test of the Falcon 9 used the Dragon spacecraft, SpaceX's in house developed capsule spacecraft capable of being manned, as a payload.
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#5Can this eventually carry people into orbit, I wonder?
"Anticipating potential astronaut transport needs, Falcon Heavy is also designed to meet NASA human rating standards. Falcon Heavy is designed to higher structural safety margins of 40% above flight loads, rather than the 25% level of other rockets, and triple redundant avionics. Despite being designed to higher structural margins than other rockets, the Falcon Heavy side booster stages have a mass ratio (full vs. empty) above 30, better than any launcher in history. By comparison, the Delta IV side boosters have a mass ratio of about 10."
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#6Wow, I like how candid they are about the pricing. It feels like they are targeting consumers more than governments -- most 'expensive,' enterprise targeted products are of the 'call us and ask for pricing' variety.
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#7Apparently the Saturn V could lift 119 metric tons to LEO.
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#8Finally, some stats on payloads and orbit altitudes. Why is it so hard to get these sorts of numbers?
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#9Wow, I like how candid they are about the pricing. It feels like they are targeting consumers more than governments -- most 'expensive,' enterprise targeted products are of the 'call us and ask for pricing' variety.
My thoughts exactly. Space X can quote a price on their website, but if I want to know what "Infrastructure Monitoring Tool XYZ" costs, I have to call and talk to some retired used car salesman.
I now have hope for our future.
Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy announced: 53 metric tons to low earth orbit
#10Apparently the Saturn V could lift 119 metric tons to LEO.
At $1.11 billion per launch, though. SpaceX is promising $80-$125 million for half the payload.