A working model of the Valley forge from Silent Running, complete with greenhouses!
Most likely they would launch something that helps them achieve their Mars aspirations. It may just be a mass simulator payload with the second stage Frankinstiened in order to get re-entry data. However SpaceX have had a long, long, long time to think about and build the payload for the FH demo mission so I doubt it will be a dumb mass simulator. Satellite to orbit Mars is possible and just getting something into Mars orbit would be a huge boost on their Mars ambitions.
Perhaps the FH payload will be something...Boring.
Quote from: NX-0 on 11/12/2017 08:38 pmPerhaps the FH payload will be something...Boring.How deep will a 70 ton half meter rod of tungsten go at 8km/s?
I have to admit that I am very disappointed with the simple goal of throwing the Tesla Roadster into a very vague orbit similar distance as Mars. No attempt to provide long distance communication. No attempt to demonstrate precision trajectory to Mars orbit or better still landing on Phobos. They have had years to plan something of value where they can demonstrate or learn something beyond the ability to lift some mass clear of earth's gravitational field. I thought they would land something on our Moon.
Quote from: Roy_H on 01/29/2018 01:05 pmI have to admit that I am very disappointed with the simple goal of throwing the Tesla Roadster into a very vague orbit similar distance as Mars. No attempt to provide long distance communication. No attempt to demonstrate precision trajectory to Mars orbit or better still landing on Phobos. They have had years to plan something of value where they can demonstrate or learn something beyond the ability to lift some mass clear of earth's gravitational field. I thought they would land something on our Moon. I agree - there are much more interesting things they could have done, that may be on the path to other interesting things that are required, from demonstrating bits of Starlink, to on-orbit assembly, to repurposing Starlink sats as Martian comsats.However, anything more than what they have apparently chosen to do would have taken some effort, even though others may quantify that as minimal.Actually landing on a body, or precision mid-course guidance as would be required to get actually to Mars would be quite involved indeed.See above for some of my ideas on other options. It seems a missed opportunity - hopefully BFS will be along soon.
Quote from: speedevil on 01/29/2018 02:09 pmQuote from: Roy_H on 01/29/2018 01:05 pmI have to admit that I am very disappointed with the simple goal of throwing the Tesla Roadster into a very vague orbit similar distance as Mars. No attempt to provide long distance communication. No attempt to demonstrate precision trajectory to Mars orbit or better still landing on Phobos. They have had years to plan something of value where they can demonstrate or learn something beyond the ability to lift some mass clear of earth's gravitational field. I thought they would land something on our Moon. I agree - there are much more interesting things they could have done, that may be on the path to other interesting things that are required, from demonstrating bits of Starlink, to on-orbit assembly, to repurposing Starlink sats as Martian comsats.However, anything more than what they have apparently chosen to do would have taken some effort, even though others may quantify that as minimal.Actually landing on a body, or precision mid-course guidance as would be required to get actually to Mars would be quite involved indeed.See above for some of my ideas on other options. It seems a missed opportunity - hopefully BFS will be along soon.Although they could have made more of this payload, there was no point in doing very elaborate things for a flight that could "blow on the pad," as Mr. Musk taunted. Maybe they have some thing extra nice for the Demo 2 flight.