Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/15/2010 02:30 pmSpaceX says that Falcon 9 can lift 6.8 tonnes and that anything heavier than that will require some type of engineering effort. This would be for the Block 2 Falcon 9, which has yet to be developed.Where does that 6.8mT number come from?
SpaceX says that Falcon 9 can lift 6.8 tonnes and that anything heavier than that will require some type of engineering effort. This would be for the Block 2 Falcon 9, which has yet to be developed.
I maintain this is the wrong way to think about the issue. Few would say a lighter aircraft is less capable than a heavier aircraft, if both performed the same mission, but one used advanced technology (modern avionics, composites) to reduce the weight. The lighter the launch vehicle, the lower its cost is likely to be, creating the potential for more frequent launches at lower overall expenditures or higher profits.
Section 4.1 of the 2009 Falcon 9 User's Guide. Full performance was listed at 10.45 tonnes in the same document.
Any ideas?...
After the last meeting at Wallops (Frank C. and I flew on the 310) Frank took some pictures of the launch pad under construction, with yours truly beaming. Also, the incredible water tower we put up for the water deluge system. According to Frank, who has done some research, at 299.5 feet from base to top of tank THIS MAY BE THE TALLEST WATER TANK IN THE WORLD!!!
After the last meeting at Wallops (Frank C. and I flew on the 310) Frank took some pictures of the launch pad under construction, with yours truly beaming. Also, the incredible water tower we put up for the water deluge system. According to Frank, who has done some research, at 299.5 feet from base to top of tank THIS MAY BE THE TALLEST WATER TANK IN THE WORLD!!!As you can see, it's still unpainted. With Bill W.'s permisison, we are running a contest for the best paint scheme. Any ideas?...
There are two camera arms two-third of the way up the two legs of the water tower closest to the pad... I wonder if we could install a remote-control camera at the very top of the tower, looking down on the rocket and then panning up during liftoff... that would make for some really spectacular video...
Oh, and BTW, what engineer thought "let's make this just slightly under 300ft tall". Really, couldn't have found an excuse to add six inches to the height?
Very nice photos. I can guess what colors Antonio would prefer, a certain La Liga team, possibly
Gravity head.