Author Topic: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon  (Read 1530249 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

« Last Edit: 07/29/2021 07:55 am by FutureSpaceTourist »
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Offline Tony T. Harris

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His honesty is welcomed in this. I do like what SpaceX is trying to do, but found, as with other "nu space" to be full of PR comments. This is much more like what I want to read. A slight slip to Falcon I launch 3 is to be expected. I'm a little worried about Merlin 1C still lacking full qualification, but they shouldn't rush it.

Stability is obviously there, which is key.
Former Saturn V propulsion systems lead engineer.

Offline Seer

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Things I'm surprised to hear.

 Musk can fund the COTS portion entirely from his own funds. Spacex employees will go up in the Dragon, but Musk won't be on the first one.

Offline jimvela

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Quote
Seer - 24/9/2007  12:48 PM

Things I'm surprised to hear.

 Musk can fund the COTS portion entirely from his own funds. Spacex employees will go up in the Dragon, but Musk won't be on the first one.

Makes it easy to get those COTS funding milestones when you have the dough in your own back pocket.

Musk would be a fool to fly early dev flights of the Dragon, without him the company is kaput.

Funny the name swap on the BFTS...  I liked the other name better.

Offline Pete at Edwards

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Good interview. Shame about Vand'berg being such an impact.

Offline Tim S

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It's one thing to risk tax money or investment money, but to put your own money into it shows bravery and vision. I for one admire him.

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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they state that SpaceX has positive net income, however where is that coming from if they have not launched a commercial satellite successfully yet?

Offline Nate_Trost

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Income from COTS + payments on manifested flights from their launch contracts.

Offline halkey

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Quote
Seer - 24/9/2007  1:48 PM

Things I'm surprised to hear.

 Musk can fund the COTS portion entirely from his own funds. Spacex employees will go up in the Dragon, but Musk won't be on the first one.

If that first mission ended in a total loss of crew, I wonder how such a disaster would impact SpaceX.  Would they dust themselves off and pick another round of volunteers for flight duty?  NASA probably would be hesitant to use it.

Offline meiza

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Man, great job, Chris, Braddock and Elon! Short questions and short, to the point answers. No "press release talk" or long adjective-laden sentences wallowing in speculations, no tiring historical repetition of backgrounds etc... I appreciate this site a lot, and Elon Musk too. Five out of five stars.

Offline coach

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RE: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #10 on: 09/24/2007 09:27 pm »
Great article.  I am always curious about what's next.  We know what's coming up,  Falcon 1 and 9 flights, Dragon, etc.  I was excited to hear about the H2 upper stage down the road.  How much performance improvement will this entail?  Will it be cost beneficial?  For a moon shot, for sure but what about routine orbital transportation?

Coach

Offline canoe76

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #11 on: 09/24/2007 09:34 pm »
Quote
halkey - 24/9/2007  3:29 PM

Quote
Seer - 24/9/2007  1:48 PM

Things I'm surprised to hear.

 Musk can fund the COTS portion entirely from his own funds. Spacex employees will go up in the Dragon, but Musk won't be on the first one.

If that first mission ended in a total loss of crew, I wonder how such a disaster would impact SpaceX.  Would they dust themselves off and pick another round of volunteers for flight duty?  NASA probably would be hesitant to use it.

Don't forget that would be after several F9 flights and several Dragon cargo flights and additional upgrades/testing of F9 to become man rated.

Offline imcub

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #12 on: 09/24/2007 09:48 pm »
Quote
Tim S - 24/9/2007  12:17 PM

It's one thing to risk tax money or investment money, but to put your own money into it shows bravery and vision. I for one admire him.

I have met a few people that spend thousands of dollars (a fair portion of their annual income) launching "model" rockets with no scientific or economic benefit to themselves ... just for fun.  Maybe Elon just really likes rockets and he can afford to build really big ones ...

Offline Ad Astra

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #13 on: 09/24/2007 11:11 pm »
Please, Elon, save us from the mistake of billions being spent on the mistake that is Ares.

Offline Jim

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #14 on: 09/24/2007 11:12 pm »
Quote
Ad Astra - 24/9/2007  7:11 PM

Please, Elon, save us from the mistake of billions being spent on the mistake that is Ares.

Falcon is not the answer to Ares

Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #15 on: 09/25/2007 12:34 am »
Quote
Jim - 24/9/2007  12:12 AM

Quote
Ad Astra - 24/9/2007  7:11 PM

Please, Elon, save us from the mistake of billions being spent on the mistake that is Ares.

Falcon is not the answer to Ares

True.  The Falcon 9 Heavy could get Orion to LEO but not to GTO.

Offline Jim

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #16 on: 09/25/2007 12:40 am »
Quote
A_M_Swallow - 24/9/2007  8:34 PM

Quote
Jim - 24/9/2007  12:12 AM

Quote
Ad Astra - 24/9/2007  7:11 PM

Please, Elon, save us from the mistake of billions being spent on the mistake that is Ares.

Falcon is not the answer to Ares

True.  The Falcon 9 Heavy could get Orion to LEO but not to GTO.

Orion doesn't go to GTO.  

Let me restate.  There is no Falcon configuration that is the answer to Ares I

Offline docmordrid

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #17 on: 09/25/2007 12:55 am »
Quote
Jim,

Falcon is not the answer to Ares

But that of course doesn't mean an answer isn't desperately needed :)
DM

Offline Chris Bergin

Quote
meiza - 24/9/2007  10:01 PM

Man, great job, Chris, Braddock and Elon! Short questions and short, to the point answers. No "press release talk" or long adjective-laden sentences wallowing in speculations, no tiring historical repetition of backgrounds etc... I appreciate this site a lot, and Elon Musk too. Five out of five stars.

Thanks much, although credit goes to Elon for being open and candid with his responses. He's a top bloke, as we say over here.

While our interview was obviously exclusive, it's also worth noting, as it didn't get as much exposure as it should have:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8951&posts=8&start=1 - for the Elon Musk speech to AIAA Houston.
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Offline Jim

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Re: Elon Musk Q&A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon
« Reply #19 on: 09/25/2007 02:14 am »
Quote
docmordrid - 24/9/2007  8:55 PM

Quote
Jim,

Falcon is not the answer to Ares

But that of course doesn't mean an answer isn't desperately needed :)

Never said that.  I am a big anti stick proponent

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