This "ITS SSTO" is totally off-topic in this thread. Shouldn't it have it's own thread?
Quote from: hkultala on 01/09/2017 09:56 amThis "ITS SSTO" is totally off-topic in this thread. Shouldn't it have it's own thread?Endorse.
By request, here is a speculative simulation of the Mini ITS. I've assumed the Mini BFR will have 7 x Raptor 50, and the Mini BFS 2 x Raptor 80. The Mini BFR should have no trouble landing on a single Raptor 50, but the Raptor 80s on the Mini BFS might not be able to throttle deeply enough to land. Perhaps four of the methalox vernier thrusters seen on the full scale BFS could be used as landing engines? If they have 10mT thrust each, they should be able to land the 18mT Mini BFS + fuel.The sim gets about 118mT to a 300 x 300 km orbit. Depending on how much ullage you think is necessary, I suspect 70-80 mT of that could be payload, and still have enough fuel to land the ship.
Why not 9 engines on the BFR as F9 has?
Does the IMLEO improve if the spaceship has a single 200:1 engine instead of two 80:1? The 200:1 has more thrust and ISP in vacuum, and the main engine isn't needed for landing.
Anyone else noticed that the Space X website seems to have purged most material pertaining to the ITS and Mars ambitions?!
Quote from: MATTBLAK on 01/21/2017 10:57 pmAnyone else noticed that the Space X website seems to have purged most material pertaining to the ITS and Mars ambitions?!Not at all. All still there: http://www.spacex.com/mars
Bump.My guess: they'll use subscale Raptor at first with a number of engines between that of FH and F9. The diameter maybe 10m.They can stretch it as the Raptor thrust increases.I predict they'll make the spaceship first so they can start suborbital testing first, but they'll essentially build the booster in parallel.
A 9m diameter vehicle fits in our existing factories ...
What I would think is that they will change the design a bit and copy some ideas from the competition.Reusable booster with reusable second stage. Spaceship for moving cargo and people between LEO and Moon/Mars orbits. Spaceship togheter with fully fuelled second stage can also be used for going straight to surface. No real tankers, expendable drop tanks for second stage.Payload lowered from 300t to the 150t to LEO range. Diameter stays at 12m for booster.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 07/22/2017 05:16 pmBump.My guess: they'll use subscale Raptor at first with a number of engines between that of FH and F9. The diameter maybe 10m.They can stretch it as the Raptor thrust increases.I predict they'll make the spaceship first so they can start suborbital testing first, but they'll essentially build the booster in parallel.https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/888813713800785923Quote from: Elon MuskA 9m diameter vehicle fits in our existing factories ...