Comments on: Space X successfully tested the next Falcon 1 rocket engine

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:33:07 +0000

Phil,

When you talk about the launch window being July to September, what exactly does that mean? Is the only time the weather will be good enough, or something else?

Thanks,

Jason.

By: fatherdaddy

fatherdaddy — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:00:17 +0000

I hate to say this, but, Space X is not free from government bureaucracy. Do you not think the FAA, at least, isn’t going to have something to say about what they intend to put in “their” airspace? My mother told me all kinds of stories about the government crap she had to put up with in her days of working at Boeing. Space X will have just as much pointy-headed input as anyone else.

By: quasidog

quasidog — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:40:02 +0000

Awesome, I’d love to see rockets like this launching from Australia. There is plenty of room for it. ;p

By: tracer

tracer — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:17:58 +0000

Er … cost per PAYLOAD pound to LEO, I mean.

By: tracer

tracer — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:17:24 +0000

What’s the SpaceX’s cost per pound to L.E.O.?

By: Nic

Nic — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:01:21 +0000

Tyler has it bang on.
Back when the Saturns were launching in the 60’s and early 70’s the mine ore (for example) was taken from, the steel works, the full monty was recorded and defined – there had been a lot of failures for all sorts of reasons and they wanted to get it right.
I personally believe this attitude still persists with, well the big established companies, but the Russians don’t do it – at least to that degree. They possibly make things more than necessarily strong and burn a bit more fuel. And check carefully what they have.
Fuel ain’t expensive (relatively. And I live in Europe – don’t complain about fuel costs ok?)

I am really interested in SpaceX. They have a well thought out vehicle, they aren’t saving every gram for the sake of it – they’ll make it work.

I really hope Boeing and LockMart are quaking in their boots because $500 for a ’space-rated bolt’ is history. And all of you American tax payers putting all sorts of lovely interesting things into orbit or beyond will perhaps not get ripped off quite so thoroughly.

Nic

P.S Ok, ok those companies do a good job. But boy do they charge for it.

By: Tyler Durden

Tyler Durden — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:06:12 +0000

Watch your ass NASA, the private sector is about to take a huge bite out of it.