Posted on 03/23/2006 9:47:56 AM PST by KevinDavis
After three failed attempts, the private launch firm Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is once more set to debut its Falcon 1 rocket in a Friday space shot.
SpaceX officials delayed the launch 24 hours to allow additional time to system checks and reviews.
“We are feeling more and more confident with each countdown attempt,” said Elon Musk, founder of the El Segundo, California-based SpaceX, via e-mail from the firm’s launch site. “It is also worth noting that four countdown attempts is actually a small number for a brand new rocket from a brand new launch site.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Given the types of problems they've had with this thing, I'd have to think that the investors are getting a bit tired of Elon Musk's happy-bouncy act. My impression is that he's pushing to launch, and as a result they're not being as careful as they should be.
yeah, but... are they gonna manage to actually LAUNCH anything this time?
That is why I'm debating if there should be a live thread of not...
Elon is the investor.
They are looking for rocket scientists.
Granted. But he's looking for investors, too.
ping
Thanks
Not until after a successful flight. And your post implied that they already existed.
You're right -- I was recalling something, probably incorrectly, from a story about their earlier on-pad problem. My memory of the story was that it described investors as "being worried," but I may have misinterpreted or misremembered.
Be that as it may -- the happy-bouncy act is getting old. He's trying to explain away avoidable problems, which suggests to me that there's something more to them.
sure there should be a live thread
The Air Force has invested nothing. They've purchased a launch, but I'm not aware that they're paying up front. Elon does in fact intend to do another private placement if the launch is successful. He told me so in person.
6.7 million dollars to launch a 43 pound satellite comes to $155,813.95 per pound. Why is this a step forward?
Because it's the lowest cost per launch available (beating Pegasus). Some customers aren't interested in paying by the pound--they don't necessarily have big satellites--they just want to get their bird up affordably, whatever it weighs.
And if it works, the larger versions will beat the competition on a per-pound basis as well.
Thanks. When in doubt look it up, I guess (from SpaceX website):
"Musk’s Falcon, priced at $6 million, can deliver a maximum of 1,400 lb to a 200-km circular orbit at launch site inclination, yielding a $4,000/lb-to-orbit cost. The entrepreneur notes that the nearest U.S. competitor in this booster class is Orbital Sciences’ Pegasus, with a ride he says is priced at $20 million. For an equivalent payload, the Pegasus would cost $14,000/lb to LEO—a difference of more than 70%."
What I missed is that they are using a 1,400 lb capacity launch vehicle to launch a 43 lb satellite. Using that big of a rocket for such a small satellite completely destroyed the cost/pound ratio. My bad.
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