Comments on: Third Falcon try

By: Falcon 1, take 3: today at 4:00 Pacific time! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:58:09 +0000

[...] X has announced that they will attempt to launch a Falcon 1 rocket into orbit today. The launch window starts at 4:00 Pacific time (23:00 UT). Read more about [...]

By: Robert Krendik

Robert Krendik — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:53:35 +0000

I hope they make it too!

By: MaDeR

MaDeR — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:37:39 +0000

>Is the Falcon big enough for manned flights?
This version (Falcon 1) no, but SpaceX works on different, bigger version (called Falcon 9) that will be capable to take human payload in capsule named Dragon.

And for question about faliure rates… doing something completely from scrath IS bound to have growing pains.

By: AAEBoiler

AAEBoiler — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:39:34 +0000

The Falcon would never be used for manned flight. The cost of man-rating the vehicle (meaning ensuring every single part is ultra-reliable and wouldn’t lead to a catastrophic failure resulting in a loss of life) would be too prohibitive for a private company.

By: Umair Rahat

Umair Rahat — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:40:08 +0000

Just plain wonderful. Good luck SpaceX!

By: KC

KC — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:27:35 +0000

>Is the Falcon big enough for manned flights?

Well the payload is about the same.

By: justcorbly

justcorbly — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:45:30 +0000

Good luck to them. This would have more impact than anything Branson might do.

Reminder: Innovation in the air industry has alway come from government-funded efforts. We should expect the same in the private space arena. SpaceX is following a path laid down by early aeronautical entrepreneurs. I.e., the profitable exploitation of technology whose development was subsidized by the taxpayers.