SpaceX unveils large booster
Posted: Mon, Sep 12, 2005, 7:15 AM ET (1115 GMT)
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announced last week that it has signed a contract for a new large rocket that will compete head-to-head with the largest expendable rockets on the market today. The Falcon 9 will be to place 9,500 kilograms into low Earth orbit in its baseline configuration for $27-35 million a launch; a heavy version will be able to launch up to 25,000 kilograms for $78 million. The company said it had already signed a contract with an unspecified government customer for a Falcon 9 launch in 2007. The Falcon 9, which uses nine engines in its first stage, will take development precedence over the Falcon 5, a medium-class vehicle that SpaceX announced in late 2003. SpaceX still plans to develop the Falcon 5 and make it available to customers in late 2007. SpaceX said that both the Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 are designed to be fully reusable, although that reusability is not factored into the launch costs the company has quoted. The first launch of the company's original launcher, the Falcon 1, is scheduled for the end of this month from Kwajalein.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announced last week that it has signed a contract for a new large rocket that will compete head-to-head with the largest expendable rockets on the market today. The Falcon 9 will be to place 9,500 kilograms into low Earth orbit in its baseline configuration for $27-35 million a launch; a heavy version will be able to launch up to 25,000 kilograms for $78 million. The company said it had already signed a contract with an unspecified government customer for a Falcon 9 launch in 2007. The Falcon 9, which uses nine engines in its first stage, will take development precedence over the Falcon 5, a medium-class vehicle that SpaceX announced in late 2003. SpaceX still plans to develop the Falcon 5 and make it available to customers in late 2007. SpaceX said that both the Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 are designed to be fully reusable, although that reusability is not factored into the launch costs the company has quoted. The first launch of the company's original launcher, the Falcon 1, is scheduled for the end of this month from Kwajalein.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 27
AFRL Moves Cargo Through Space with SpaceX Demonstration
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) 'Behind closed doors': The secret SpaceX deal and the lawsuit challenging it
WWNO-FM New Orleans — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) New MSFC Director highlights vision at 2026 Von Braun Space Exploration Symposium
WZDX-TV Huntsville, AL — 6:04 am ET (1004 GMT) Sierra Space Appoints Second CFO In Four Months
Aviation Week — 6:03 am ET (1003 GMT) UCF Aerospace Medicine Faculty Honored as International Leaders
Univ. of Central Florida — 6:02 am ET (1002 GMT) |
