Isn't this a direct takeaway from Ariane? Thought they were using their birds.
Interesting the knockers when a U.S. company wins back international business. Sounds particularly like sour grapes to me.SpaceX has launched satellites and built fairings. I don't see those things as difficult for SpaceX anymore. Certainly not more difficult that designing, manufacturing, launching and returning to Earth, a spacecraft. Schedule slip is expected (where were the cries of horror for the slips on Shuttle and Cx - silence was deafening) and no doubt the companies signing up with SpaceX are well aware of that risk. I think you'll see the company ramp up and meet its committments next year. It's doing things now like enlarging McGregor and moving it's machine shop to provide more manufacturing room. I think many give the company insufficient credit for what they've already done and I think those persons have totally underestimated them.JM2CW
Actually, I think remaining a profitable launch vehicle provider without direct government subsidy is a lot harder than making an orbital launch vehicle or even a reentry-capable spacecraft. I don't think anyone has done it, yet*! It's not assured that SpaceX will fulfill that, though I think almost all of us hope for that (even Orbital, their competitors... who make more money on the satellites).*With the possible exception of Orbital.
Actually that's not even correct since SpaceX has Dragon and that's a cargo vehicle, not just a launch vehicle.
SpaceX has launched satellites and built fairings. I don't see those things as difficult for SpaceX anymore. Certainly not more difficult that designing, manufacturing, launching and returning to Earth, a spacecraft.
Quote from: beancounter on 06/14/2011 02:48 amSpaceX has launched satellites and built fairings. I don't see those things as difficult for SpaceX anymore. Certainly not more difficult that designing, manufacturing, launching and returning to Earth, a spacecraft. Then why aren't they launching satellites?
Quote from: mrmandias on 06/14/2011 04:05 pmQuote from: beancounter on 06/14/2011 02:48 amSpaceX has launched satellites and built fairings. I don't see those things as difficult for SpaceX anymore. Certainly not more difficult that designing, manufacturing, launching and returning to Earth, a spacecraft. Then why aren't they launching satellites?Because their contracts call for satellite launches in a few years, not now. Exactly which satellites would you like them to launch now?
Interesting the knockers when a U.S. company wins back international business.
It's doing things now like enlarging McGregor and moving it's machine shop to provide more manufacturing room. I think many give the company insufficient credit for what they've already done and ...
When do you think they will be able to do seven launches per year, which is about what they are putting on the manifiest?
...building rockets like McDonalds builds fat folks (efficiently). ...
Quote from: Danderman on 06/13/2011 02:59 pmThis is a major coup for SpaceX.The coup is getting somebody to believe that they can launch 6-8 missions before this one.
This is a major coup for SpaceX.
Quote from: Jim on 06/13/2011 03:28 pmQuote from: Danderman on 06/13/2011 02:59 pmThis is a major coup for SpaceX.The coup is getting somebody to believe that they can launch 6-8 missions before this one.For the moment I agree. SpaceX has shown they can fly a rocket. They haven't shown they can launch everyone even if they got 100% of the launch market with their superior advertising.How they will scale is their next great challenge. NASA is pushing them on this as well.That said, SpaceX is really shaking things up. But they still need to deliver what they've contracted for.
Elon is having a good week. Besides this SpaceX news, another facet of his personal business portfolio trifecta, Solar City, just got a $280 million investment from Google.