Since SpaceX is now talking about Point-to-Point travel on Earth,
Much bigger. NS can barely deliver a useful payload 100 km straight up, nevermind 100 km up and halfway around the world. New Glenn would probably be a decent basis for such a vehicle
Here’s the video:
The argument they're making is that New Shepard is a training program for their teams that will be doing the orbital reuse.
The problem is that Bezos has too much money. No sense of urgency. No parlay it all and make it work.
Quote from: QuantumG on 11/05/2017 12:26 amThe argument they're making is that New Shepard is a training program for their teams that will be doing the orbital reuse.A bit like saying that building a go-cart is good training for a Formula One team, none of the hard problems are covered by the training.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/04/2017 08:07 pmHere’s the video:Fighting words: "This is not a rocket where we decided to slap some legs on and see if we can land it."
Quote from: MikeAtkinson on 11/05/2017 03:33 amQuote from: QuantumG on 11/05/2017 12:26 amThe argument they're making is that New Shepard is a training program for their teams that will be doing the orbital reuse.A bit like saying that building a go-cart is good training for a Formula One team, none of the hard problems are covered by the training.Isn't that muddling the scaling vehicle technology and scaling operations?I'll admit I know little about F1, but I'd have thought that an F1 pit crew and logistics are just higher performing versions of what you'd find in other motorsports?In what ways isn't operating NS a good dress rehearsal for operating NG?
Quote from: Cheapchips on 11/05/2017 05:43 amQuote from: MikeAtkinson on 11/05/2017 03:33 amQuote from: QuantumG on 11/05/2017 12:26 amThe argument they're making is that New Shepard is a training program for their teams that will be doing the orbital reuse.A bit like saying that building a go-cart is good training for a Formula One team, none of the hard problems are covered by the training.Isn't that muddling the scaling vehicle technology and scaling operations?I'll admit I know little about F1, but I'd have thought that an F1 pit crew and logistics are just higher performing versions of what you'd find in other motorsports?In what ways isn't operating NS a good dress rehearsal for operating NG?My whole point was about building, not operating. I've not much idea what goes into building a go-cart, but it will be very small in comparison with a Formula One car. The top teams spend about $500 M per year, much of it on design and development, which mean their cars have cost more to develop than Falcon 9, Merlin and reuse combined (over the same period). The point is about margins, scale and complexity, going from NS to NG is a huge leap.
Its smarmy comments like these from Blue and Bezos that make me "dislike" them a little. They are unwarranted and unnecessary. They have a lot to learn and a long way to go. Building an engine is one thing, launching and returning it is another leap. If Blue want to score points then build and launch this thing and less talk.