FALCON HEAVY OVERVIEW

Space-X ^ | April 5, 2011 | Space-x

[jmcenanly]

Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful rocket, represents SpaceX’s entry into the heavy lift launch vehicle category. With the ability to carry satellites or interplanetary spacecraft weighing over 53 metric tons (117,000 lb) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Falcon Heavy can lift nearly twice the payload of the next closest vehicle, the US Space Shuttle, and more than twice the payload of the Delta IV Heavy.

[jmcenanly]

Unlike the Shuttle, or the Saturn V, The Falcon Heavy is built from 3 clustered Falcon 9's, which have already been used to put satellites into orbit.

[Hodar]

That is impressive. And leveraging off of solid designs is simply smart, too.

[paul51]

WOW. Fire in the hole!

[El Sordo]

It’s beautiful!

[Rebelbase]

For comparison purpose only:

[PA Engineer]

Very cool. The Saturn V I believe was able to lift 260,000 pounds to LEO. This is a great and smart development. BTTT.

[thecabal]

Makes way more sense than the over-engineered government boondoggles that NASA has produced.

[GonzoGOP]

I like that they have fuel cross feeds so that if they have an engine out they can use the fuel to burn the other engines longer and not lose the launch. But the sound of 27 Merlins lighting off all at once has to be earth shaking.

[TSgt]

Saturn V
Payload to LEO 262,000 pounds (119,000 kg)
Payload to TLI (100,000 pounds (45,000 kg))

[GonzoGOP]

Just for size comparison here is Space-X's future development plans. To say that these guys are ambitious is a bit of an understatement.

[TSgt]

I want to know how it didn’t melt the test platform. I’m with you, I want to hear all 27 at once!

Falcon 9 Nine Engine Test - MDC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8-61AzLnlA

[PA Engineer]

Thanks. I am relieved that some of my childhood neurons are still functioning.

It is a shame the US gave up on the Saturn V. I can only imagine what heavy lift would be today if we had any vision to continue the program.

[GonzoGOP]

It is a shame the US gave up on the Saturn V. I can only imagine what heavy lift would be today if we had any vision to continue the program.

Von Braun was developing the NOVA series of boosters. They made the Saturn V look like a bottle rocket. The technology was there, but there was no mission for them once NASA decided to only fly to LEO.

[TSgt]

I’m impressed with Space X and like the idea of competition to drive down U.S. Government launch costs.

Hell, privatize NASA!

And the post office, and {fill the government service here}

[Spruce]

If I recall, Von Braun envisioned a fleet of delivery vehicles, "Space trucks" if you will, to deliver men and material to LEO to construct a manufacturing/launch facility where the next-generation of exploration and colonization vehicles would be built, launched and serviced.

Congress, in it's infinite wisdom, decided to just build the trucks, the Space Shuttle. The shuttle is one component of a system that was never built.

Had we followed Von Braun's vision, we would be colonizing the moon and Americans would be exploring Mars.

[Spruce]

If I recall, Von Braun envisioned a fleet of delivery vehicles, "Space trucks" if you will, to deliver men and material to LEO to construct a manufacturing/launch facility where the next-generation of exploration and colonization vehicles would be built, launched and serviced.

Congress, in it's infinite wisdom, decided to just build the trucks, the Space Shuttle. The shuttle is one component of a system that was never built.

Had we followed Von Braun's vision, we would be colonizing the moon and Americans would be exploring Mars.

[wally_bert]

Then the Brits would follow along, build a drab run down city and call it Manchester after terraforming. The next steps would be Mars Cars that look oddly like Ford Cortinas and everyone would dress badly but live a wild 70s lifestyle despite it being an economic basketcase with rolling blackouts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqSzV1MPi0w

I couldn’t resist the Life On Mars references.

[KevinDavis]

[anymouse]

You do know that SpaceX has already received about 1/2 Billion of our tax dollars from NASA, right?

Crony capitalism vs. government contractor waste - what a choice.

We should be pushing for true competitive market capitalism (i.e. commercial space.) That’s when we start seeing real progress.