[extropy-chat] SpaceX announces Falcon 9, private EELV-class rocket

[Neil H.]

(I've recently returned to the internet after disappearing for a while due 
to grad qualifying exams (which I passed!), and realized that nobody had 
posted about the following here yet)

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/09/spacex-launches-falcon-9-with-a-customer/index.php
http://www.spacex.com/falcon_9.php
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=17763
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9

"*SpaceX initially intended to follow its first vehicle development, Falcon 
1, with the intermediate class Falcon 5 launch vehicle. However, in response 
to customer requirements for low cost enhanced launch capability, SpaceX 
accelerated development of an EELV-class vehicle, upgrading Falcon 5 to 
Falcon 9. SpaceX has sold a Falcon 9 launch to a US government customer, and 
still plans to make Falcon 5 available in late 2007. Their efforts are worth 
watching, and could affect the military satellite launch market."

"**With up to a 17 ft (5.2 m) diameter fairing, Falcon 9 is capable of 
launching approximately 21,000 lbs (9,500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in 
its medium configuration and 55,000 lbs (25,000 kg) to LEO in its heavy 
configuration, a lift capacity greater than any other launch vehicle. In the 
medium configuration, Falcon 9 is priced at $27 million per flight with a 12 
ft (3.6 m) fairing and $35 million with a 17 ft fairing. Prices include all 
launch range and third party insurance costs, and SpaceX claims that this 
makes Falcon 9 the most cost efficient vehicle in its class worldwide."

*So, Boeing's Delta IV Heavy lifts 25,000 kg for $254 million. The SpaceX 
Falcon 9 S9 will be able to lift the same amount for a starting price of $78 
million. Wow.

Since it's based on the Falcon 5, the Falcon 9 will probably also be 
man-rated.

>From the press release:

*A recent study performed by the Futron Corporation, concluded that Falcon 5 
was superior in design reliability to other vehicles in its class, due to 
engine redundancy. Falcon 9, by extension, has even higher reliability with 
increased propulsion redundancy.

Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 will be the world's first launch vehicles where all 
stages are designed for reuse. The Falcon 1 has a reusable first stage, but 
an expendable upper stage. Reuse is not factored into launch prices. When 
the economics of stage recovery and checkout are fully understood, SpaceX 
will make further reductions in launch prices. *

Meanwhile, NASA has recently
announced<http://space.com/news/050914_nasa_cev_update.html>that it
will be spending $5.5 billion on developing the Crew Exploration
Vehicle, $4.5 billion on the Crew Launch Vehicle, and between $5 and $10 
billion on a new heavy-lift vehicle. Who wants to bet that by the time 
NASA's new rockets are ready, SpaceX will already have a similar rocket 
available at a tiny fraction of the price?

Granted, SpaceX still needs to pull off a successful launch of the Falcon I, 
scheduled for later this year. I wish them the best of luck.
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