Using a third stage inside the payload bay is also something that should be very seriously considered.
==============================================================Vehicle 1st Flt TransLunar TransMars GTO ==============================================================...BFR 2022? 0 kg 0 kg ~20,000 kgBFR-R 2022? ~73,500 kg ~66,000 kg ??? kg...=============================================================="X" Denotes Expendable Version"R" Denotes LEO Refueling, per launch basis
Quote from: MATTBLAK on 06/03/2017 02:26 amAlso; the expended core but the two boosters landing downrange on the barges.There are many theoretical options, but I think Ed wants to concentrate on the practical and more likely options.
Also; the expended core but the two boosters landing downrange on the barges.
Updated with BFR added, based on the attached chart from Elon's September 29, 2017 presentation.==============================================================Vehicle 1st Flt TransLunar TransMars GTO ==============================================================Falcon 9 Blk 5 2017? ~3,000 kg? ~2,500 kg? 5,500 kgFalcon 9 Blk 5-X 2017? ~5,500 kg 4,020 kg 8,300 kgFalcon Heavy 2018? ~5,500 kg ~4,900 kg 8,000 kgFalcon Heavy-X 2018? ~20,500 kg 16,800 kg 26,700 kgSLS Blk 1 2019? 24,500 kg 19,500 kg N/AVulcan Centaur 56x 2019? ~8,300 kg ~6,200 kg 10,200 kgNew Glenn 2 Stg 2020? ~7,500 kg? ~3,000 kg? 13,000 kgNGL-5xx 2021? ~6,000 kg ~4,700 kg 8,500 kgSLS Blk 1B 2021? 39,000 kg 32,000 kg N/ABFR 2022? 0 kg 0 kg ~20,000 kgVulcan ACES 56x 2023? 14,000 kg 10,500 kg 17,200 kgNGL-5xx-XL 2023? ~10,300 kg ~8,200 kg? 14,700 kgNew Glenn 3 Stg 2025? ~25,000 kg? ~20,000 kg? ~30,000 kg?SLS Blk 2 2028? >45,000 kg >37,600 kg N/A=============================================================="X" Denotes Expendable VersionUpdated 10-06-17{/pre] - Ed Kyle
==============================================================Vehicle 1st Flt TransLunar TransMars GTO ==============================================================Falcon 9 Blk 5 2017? ~3,000 kg? ~2,500 kg? 5,500 kgFalcon 9 Blk 5-X 2017? ~5,500 kg 4,020 kg 8,300 kgFalcon Heavy 2018? ~5,500 kg ~4,900 kg 8,000 kgFalcon Heavy-X 2018? ~20,500 kg 16,800 kg 26,700 kgSLS Blk 1 2019? 24,500 kg 19,500 kg N/AVulcan Centaur 56x 2019? ~8,300 kg ~6,200 kg 10,200 kgNew Glenn 2 Stg 2020? ~7,500 kg? ~3,000 kg? 13,000 kgNGL-5xx 2021? ~6,000 kg ~4,700 kg 8,500 kgSLS Blk 1B 2021? 39,000 kg 32,000 kg N/ABFR 2022? 0 kg 0 kg ~20,000 kgVulcan ACES 56x 2023? 14,000 kg 10,500 kg 17,200 kgNGL-5xx-XL 2023? ~10,300 kg ~8,200 kg? 14,700 kgNew Glenn 3 Stg 2025? ~25,000 kg? ~20,000 kg? ~30,000 kg?SLS Blk 2 2028? >45,000 kg >37,600 kg N/A=============================================================="X" Denotes Expendable VersionUpdated 10-06-17{/pre] - Ed Kyle
Based on this slide the 2017 BFR/BFS is expected to have a IMLEO of 335 tonnes (250 payload and 85 vehicle dry mass), if both vehicles are fully expended.
Quote from: envy887 on 03/19/2018 07:35 pmBased on this slide the 2017 BFR/BFS is expected to have a IMLEO of 335 tonnes (250 payload and 85 vehicle dry mass), if both vehicles are fully expended. And of course 'fully expended' in this context means 'second stage can be recovered after a lunar flyby, aerobrake into LEO and one tanker refuel in orbit'. Musk mentioned 'around twice' the payload expendable at sxsw. This more-or-less tallies with the above estimate, if you assume the 150 tons is including 20 tons of landing fuel. (this is never quite mentioned, 'around' could work with either including or not.).
Fully expended might mean "no TPS", which would preclude a return of any kind.
Quote from: envy887 on 03/19/2018 07:59 pmFully expended might mean "no TPS", which would preclude a return of any kind. It makes it notably more annoying.Catching a stage coming back from the moon at some 3km/s is quite doable with margin with a nominal BFS.But if you're doing that, you may as well refuel it in orbit as well, and get the whole 250 tons in LLO. (upper stage can manage TEI itself).For the cost of an expended BFR and ten or so unexpended flights.The question of course arises if there is much point in doing this over 150 tons, but it's a fun thought exercise.
==============================================================Vehicle 1st Flt TransLunar TransMars GTO ==============================================================Falcon Heavy 2018 ~5,500 kg ~4,900 kg 8,000 kgFalcon 9 Blk 5 2018 ~3,000 kg? ~2,500 kg? 5,500 kgFalcon 9 Blk 5-X 2018 ~5,500 kg 4,020 kg 8,300 kgFalcon Heavy-X 2018 ~20,500 kg 16,800 kg 26,700 kgSLS Blk 1 2020? 25,900 kg 19,500 kg N/AVulcan Centaur 56x 2020? ~13,300 kg ~10,000 kg 16,300 kgNew Glenn 2 Stg 2021? ~15,980 kg? ~13,232 kg? ~21,383 kg?Omega 5xx 2021? ~6,000 kg? ~4,700 kg? 10,100 kgBFR 2021? 0 kg 0 kg ~20,000 kgBFR-X 2021? ~55,000 kg? ~35,000 kg? ~80,000 kg?SLS Blk 1B 2024? 39,000 kg 32,000 kg N/AOmega 5xxXL 2024? ~10,300 kg ~8,200 kg? 14,700 kg?Vulcan ACES 56x 2024? 14,000 kg 10,500 kg 17,200 kgNew Glenn 3 Stg 2025? ~23,076 kg? ~20,227 kg? ~28,627 kg?SLS Blk 2 2028? >45,000 kg >37,600 kg N/A=============================================================="X" Denotes Expendable VersionUpdated 06-01-18
Vulcan Centaur 5 numbers are pessimistically low. I'd suggest either taking Delta Heavy's capacity and adding 30% or start with GTO at 16,300 kg until something more concrete is released.
Updated with recent events:1 - SLS Block 1 is still notionally Dec 2019, but likely moved to NET 2020, Block 1B likely NET 20232 - New Glenn is still notionally Q4 2020, but more likely 2021. Updated with estimated data from Ed's site and the Silverbird calculator3 - Vulcan-Centaur 5 moved from 2019 to mid-2020, Vulcan ACES moved from 2023 to 20244 - BFR in now notionally NET 2020 (orbital test flights) moved up from 2022, but likely still NET 2021.5 - Added theoretical capability of fully expended BFR as described at IAC 2017. Will add refueling capability once a likely date of a refueling flight test is released.6 - Vulcan Centaur 56x GTO payload updated to 16.3 t per this article7 - NGL is now Omega, payloads are improved for the medium version to GTO, heavy version flies NET 2024: http://spacenews.com/orbital-atk-selects-aerojet-rocketdynes-rl10c-for-newly-christened-omega-rocket/
TBH is "Omega" any more real that Liberty/NGL?
Quote from: john smith 19 on 06/01/2018 07:30 amTBH is "Omega" any more real that Liberty/NGL?They are building first stage hardware, so that is pretty real. No so sure on the hydrolox stage.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 06/01/2018 07:51 amQuote from: john smith 19 on 06/01/2018 07:30 amTBH is "Omega" any more real that Liberty/NGL?They are building first stage hardware, so that is pretty real. No so sure on the hydrolox stage.The way I see it, Omega is as real as Vulcan at this point - maybe even more real since Orbital ATK has firmly decided and announced about all of its propulsion options while we're still waiting to hear about BE-4 versus AR-1. Contract competition will weed out all but two of the three or more competitors in a year or two, but until then it is all real. - Ed Kyle
Very skeptical of all of these 2020 stated launch dates.