SpaceX unveils Falcon, announces larger vehicle
Posted: Fri, Dec 5, 2003, 2:43 AM ET (0743 GMT)
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) unveiled its Falcon launch vehicle Thursday night as the company announced plans to develop a larger version. SpaceX put the vehicle on public display for the first time outside the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. During a press event Thursday evening SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced plans to build the Falcon 5, a larger version of the Falcon. The Falcon 5 will use five engines in its first stage, all versions of the single Merlin engine used in the first stage of the current Falcon. The Falcon 5 will be able to put up to 4,200 kilograms into LEO for $12 million a launch. Musk said the Falcon 5 will be available starting in 2005. The first launch of the smaller Falcon displayed Thursday in Washington is planned for late March of 2004 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California; it will carry the TacSat-1 experimental satellite for the US military. Musk, who created SpaceX 18 months ago, is best known for co-founding the online payment service PayPal, which he sold to eBay last year for $1.5 billion.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) unveiled its Falcon launch vehicle Thursday night as the company announced plans to develop a larger version. SpaceX put the vehicle on public display for the first time outside the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. During a press event Thursday evening SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced plans to build the Falcon 5, a larger version of the Falcon. The Falcon 5 will use five engines in its first stage, all versions of the single Merlin engine used in the first stage of the current Falcon. The Falcon 5 will be able to put up to 4,200 kilograms into LEO for $12 million a launch. Musk said the Falcon 5 will be available starting in 2005. The first launch of the smaller Falcon displayed Thursday in Washington is planned for late March of 2004 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California; it will carry the TacSat-1 experimental satellite for the US military. Musk, who created SpaceX 18 months ago, is best known for co-founding the online payment service PayPal, which he sold to eBay last year for $1.5 billion.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 25
Rocket Lab Successfully Launches Two Missions in Less Than 24 Hours
Rocket Lab — 5:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Start thinking about space tourism, Travel Counsellors agents told
Travel Weekly — 5:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Greater transparency will enhance space governance
Australian Strategic Policy Institute — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) Rural visionaries and space frontiers: How Terry Kilgore helped transform Virginia into a commercial space hub
Cardinal News — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) Colorado Springs named permanent home for 250 Delta 15 Space Force guardians, ahead of possible Space Command fight
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) |
