New space rockets

[Hobbes]

SpaceX has unveiled their plans for the future, with new launchers that will be able to launch up to 140 tons into orbit, i.e. more payload than a Saturn V.



http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22395.0

Exciting stuff, mainly because SpaceX has a real chance to change the course of space operations. Unlike NASA, which has become a political football, with plan after plan being drawn up and then abandoned.

[jcf]

Umm, yeah IMHO just another pretty slideshow and who exactly is going to pay for all this wonderful stuff?

BTW NASA always has been a political football and, on the space side of the house (which is not their only job), their own worst enemy.

[Hobbes]

SpaceX already have commercial launch contracts for several Falcon 9 rockets.

NASA plans for a heavy launcher (>100 tons to low earth orbit) have quoted prices on the order of 10-40 billion. SpaceX thinks they can develop the Merlin 2 engine for 1 billion. The Falcon X is basically a scaled-up Falcon 9, and that was developed incl the first example built and launched for $300 million.

[jcf]

SpaceX already have commercial launch contracts for several Falcon 9 rockets.

NASA plans for a heavy launcher (>100 tons to low earth orbit) have quoted prices on the order of 10-40 billion. SpaceX thinks they can develop the Merlin 2 engine for 1 billion. The Falcon X is basically a scaled-up Falcon 9, and that was developed incl the first example built and launched for $300 million.

With one successful Falcon 9 launch and 3 out of 5 failures for Falcon I.
Also for their scheduled Falcon 9 launches in 15 of 25 listed, the customer is NASA, in other words the US taxpayer.

Based on historical figures for launcher development, I'd say they have lots more blow-ups coming, especially
as I think their 'we can just scale it up' philosophy is rather optimistic, again based on history.