Poll

What development steps do you see going forward from F9R to BFR for SpaceX after Falcon Heavy with core recovery?

Raptor upper stage for FH, Recoverable Raptor upper stage, 5 meter or greater diameter Raptor based NFR using the Raptor upper stage, BFS (tested with upgraded NFR), finally BFR/BFS
12 (21.8%)
FH with crossfeed, BFR/BFS
3 (5.5%)
F9/FH with kerolox upper stage recovery, FH with crossfeed, BFR
0 (0%)
F9 with Raptor upper stage, FH with Raptor upper stage, Raptor upper stage recovery, 5 meter or greater diameter Raptor based NFR using the Raptor upper stage, BFS mated to NFR or NFR upgrage, BFR
16 (29.1%)
FH with crossfeed, F9/FH kerolox upper stage recovery, Raptor upper stage with recovery, BFR/BFS
1 (1.8%)
FH with crossfeed, F9/FH kerolox upper stage recovery, BFR/BFS
1 (1.8%)
FH with crossfeed, F9/FH kerolox upper stage recovery, Raptor upper stage with recovery, 5 meter or greater diameter Raptor based NFR using the Raptor upper stage, BFR/BFS
0 (0%)
SpaceX will develop some of these but will never go as far as BFR/BFS
7 (12.7%)
SpaceX will develop in a widely (not necessarily wildly) different way than presented in the above options
15 (27.3%)

Total Members Voted: 55

Voting closed: 05/04/2016 08:02 pm


Author Topic: The steps from FH to BFR  (Read 9541 times)

Online oldAtlas_Eguy

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Re: The steps from FH to BFR
« Reply #20 on: 04/30/2016 01:51 am »
Yes FH is a beast. The FH (FT) version as fully expendable may have a TMI capability of >21mt which was the FH1.1 with crossfeed capability. So no crossfeed. More likely a Raptor US that can increase the payload by 30-50%. That increase would make it possible to do the same payloads as fully reusable as the current FH could do with just reuse of the 1st stage. A rapid fully reusable FH could really revolutionize the cost to space <$1,000/kg.

I voted #1 but I have the same disbelief that SpaceX will build a NFR.

Offline philw1776

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Re: The steps from FH to BFR
« Reply #21 on: 05/09/2016 06:34 pm »
Option One except NFW to NFR.  Ain't gonna happen.
FH upgrade with Raptor US maybe even recoverable meets the market pre-BFS.
No need for NFR.  Just because something CAN be developed doesn't mean it will.
FULL SEND!!!!

Offline JasonAW3

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Re: The steps from FH to BFR
« Reply #22 on: 05/13/2016 07:03 pm »
Option One except NFW to NFR.  Ain't gonna happen.
FH upgrade with Raptor US maybe even recoverable meets the market pre-BFS.
No need for NFR.  Just because something CAN be developed doesn't mean it will.

If they do that interim rocket, the Raptor powered Falcon, do you think that they'd use a four or five engine cluster?  The raptors are, in general much larger than the Merlins, so nine engines are not at all likely.
My God!  It's full of universes!

Offline gin455res

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Re: The steps from FH to BFR
« Reply #23 on: 08/18/2016 07:32 pm »
Could a Falcon Heavy comprising of 2 x F9-s, flanking an F2rap* central core,  put any payload into orbit without an upperstage?

* a Falcon width rocket with 2 raptors but no merlins

Fewer stages than a conventional Falcon Heavy.


[Or perhaps 2 F5s flanking a Single Raptor  core would be better?]
[ or two F9s flanking a 2 Raptor core where the Raptor is dual chambered to give four nozzles that surround a single Merlin. The Merlin could be used for re-entry and landing. Topped by a Vacuum Merlin upperstage]

Offline Paul451

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Re: The steps from FH to BFR
« Reply #24 on: 08/19/2016 02:45 am »
or two F9s flanking a 2 Raptor core where the Raptor is dual chambered to give four nozzles that surround a single Merlin.

Raptors are methalox, Merlins are kerolox. A stage with both Raptors and a Merlin, in whatever combination, would require three different propellant tanks, RP-1, Methane and LOx. That kind of complexity violates how SpaceX works. Mixed engines on a single stage won't happen.

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