Author Topic: SpaceX customers' views on reuse  (Read 319911 times)

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #220 on: 10/19/2017 10:01 pm »
Matt Desch thinks the risk on a used booster might be less than new:

Quote
Tweet from Matt Desch:
Comfort that risk <= than new and more schedule certainty to complete 5 more launches over next 8 months.  Cost is better, but not driver.

Offline john smith 19

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #221 on: 10/21/2017 11:41 am »
If you can get the acceptance of used as being just as good as new then SpaceX could then go to a set price for F9 regardless of whether the booster flown is new or used as long as the customer does not specify a new one. This is their current expressed pricing goal to occur as early as next year. So far the views released lately seem to support this view of used as being as good as a new one.
I was reading an old book about the history of the integrated circuit. In passing it mentioned in the earl1950's, when companies were still making things like TV's and radios by hand soldering parts to each other people were saying that this was more reliable than these new fangled "printed wiring" boards.  :o

You really have to take a step back outside of the launch industry "Expendable is the only way to orbit" mindset and realize how crazy the "I want a new one that's never been flown before" request sounds.

Every car/boat/ship/plane/submarine/helicopter has been through at least one full test of its ability to actually travel in the medium for which it was designed.

The question is not wheather reuse is "good," it is wheather it's better than expendable, and not just for the mfg.
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #222 on: 10/25/2017 10:16 am »
Cross-posting:

Wired claims that the next two cargo missions for nasa will be on flown boosters:
https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-keeps-lining-up-covert-military-launches/

"NASA’s interest in SpaceX’s reusable technology seems to be growing as well. Sources at Kennedy Space Center tell WIRED that NASA and SpaceX have preliminarily agreed to launch the next two cargo resupply missions to ISS atop reusable rockets."

Offline nacnud

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #223 on: 10/25/2017 10:26 am »
Sources at Kennedy Space Center tell WIRED that NASA and SpaceX have preliminarily agreed to launch the next two cargo resupply missions to ISS atop reusable rockets."

Reusable not reused. Aren't all F9s boosters reuseable now?

Offline Ictogan

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #224 on: 10/25/2017 10:49 am »
Sources at Kennedy Space Center tell WIRED that NASA and SpaceX have preliminarily agreed to launch the next two cargo resupply missions to ISS atop reusable rockets."

Reusable not reused. Aren't all F9s boosters reuseable now?
Not the ones that are launched without legs and grid fins. But it's hardly a surprise that the boosters launching the CRS missions have legs and grid fins.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #225 on: 10/25/2017 11:12 am »
It’s a consistent ‘style’ throughout the Wired article to say ‘reusable’ rather than ‘reused’:

Quote
SpaceX offered SES the first reusable orbital rocket launch in aerospace history and all the free publicity that came along with it. The historic mission launched on March 30, and on October 11, SpaceX fired off its third reusable rocket, carrying another SES payload.

So it’s clear enough what they mean, although using the correct word would help!

Offline rpapo

Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #226 on: 10/25/2017 11:15 am »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".
« Last Edit: 10/25/2017 11:29 am by rpapo »
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #227 on: 10/30/2017 12:10 pm »
Wired claims that the next two cargo missions for nasa will be on flown boosters:
https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-keeps-lining-up-covert-military-launches/

"NASA’s interest in SpaceX’s reusable technology seems to be growing as well. Sources at Kennedy Space Center tell WIRED that NASA and SpaceX have preliminarily agreed to launch the next two cargo resupply missions to ISS atop reusable rockets."

And now preliminary agreement is official:

NASA's approved CRS-13 to fly on CRS-11's booster. We've been following it in L2, but it has now become a decision, so that's great news. More in the coming period, but to get the news out there, added it to William's Koreasat article:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/10/falcon-9-koreasat-5a-nasa-approves-flown-boosters/

Online oldAtlas_Eguy

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #228 on: 10/30/2017 04:56 pm »
The only things not being reused on CRS-13 is the US and Trunk.

Offline AncientU

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #229 on: 11/10/2017 09:13 pm »
With Nasa, SES, Iridium on board, and USAF probably not too distant in the van, majority customer acceptance is likely approximately one year after first reflight(3/30/2017).  More than half of 2018 cores launched will be reflown cores. 
Amazing.
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Offline Norm38

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #230 on: 11/10/2017 09:36 pm »
Which given SpaceX's demand and backlog, may very well be the difference between those customers flying in 2018 or not.

Offline Dante2121

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #231 on: 11/11/2017 11:48 am »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".

Reusable sounds better - like it's following its intended path.

Reused seems like a secondhand afterthought of lower quality.

How many years until this is so commonplace the adjective gets dropped all together? We don't use it for flying on airplanes.

Offline SweetWater

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #232 on: 11/11/2017 12:32 pm »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".

Reusable sounds better - like it's following its intended path.

Reused seems like a secondhand afterthought of lower quality.

How many years until this is so commonplace the adjective gets dropped all together? We don't use it for flying on airplanes.

We'll probably be living with the adjective for a good while yet. Most rockets are expendable, and they will remain so for the foreseeable future.

As far as I am aware, the only other company planning reuse of an orbital-class first stage right now is Blue Blue Origin. They are aiming for a 2020 first launch of New Glenn, although as far as I know we don't have a more specific NET date. Even assuming they hit their goal, I doubt they will fly a re-used booster until 2021.

ULA's Vulcan and ESA's Ariane 6 aren't even being built with re-use planned from the beginning, but more a situation of maybe-we'll-add-reuse-later-if-we-feel-like-throwing-some-money-at-it. Personally, I doubt we'll ever see SMART re-use on the Vulcan, and if re-use is ever implemented on Ariane 6 (either Adeline or something else), it will be a different enough vehicle they will probably call it Ariane 7.

As for other foreign launchers, the Russians have been talking about reusing boosters all the way back to (at least) the Zenit first stages on Energia; however, they barely have the funding to keep their current program running and don't have the money to invest in developing reusables.

Japan and India are in a similar boat to Russia in that they could probably develop the technology for re-usable boosters, but I don't see them spending the money. JAXA has been working on the H3 since 2013, and last I knew it's first flight had a NET date of 2020. India has expressed interest in reusables, but the amount of funding available for that project seems fairly limited, and their future Unified Launch Vehicle (which isn't even baselined for re-use, as far as I know) doesn't have a NET date.

As for China, we saw a mock-up of a very Falcon 9-looking Chinese rocket a few months ago with landing legs, etc. Like Russia, Japan, and India, China could probably develop the technology needed for re-use if they wanted to, and they definitely have the money to invest if they decide to go that route. However, they already have a lot on their plate with beginning construction of their modular station, ramping up for more frequent Shenzhou flight, and ironing out the problems they've been having with Long March 5.

Bottom line is that SpaceX probably has the re-usability game to themselves at least through the end of 2020, and we'll probably be referring to their rockets as re-usable and reused for a fair while yet.

Online aero

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #233 on: 11/11/2017 04:13 pm »
To take examples from the automotive industry, you can buy:
- New
- Certified pre-owned,
- Pre-owned
- Used
- Junk

So the rocked correllary may be.
New
Flight proven
Re-fly
Re-flown
Re-used
Used
RUD

There must be more examples/possibilities.
Retired, working interesting problems

Offline AncientU

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #234 on: 11/11/2017 07:48 pm »
Which given SpaceX's demand and backlog, may very well be the difference between those customers flying in 2018 or not.

At their flight rate and year-on-year acceleration, SpaceX demand and backlog are swapping positions.   They will soon be able to launch all the payloads created world-wide -- backlog will be a satellite vendor issue, not a launch issue.  2018 is cross-over year (baring mishaps).  Recall that ULA boss Bruno trash-talked predicted 12-15 months (IIRC) for return to flight after AMOS... that was 13.5 months (and 16 launches) ago.  At 15 month point, he could be off be a mere 20 launches -- 3.3 years of Atlas V flights.

So, enough of this 'backlog' shade...

Note: NASA and Iridium had protected or high queue positions.  Neither had to change 'to get their payloads launched in 2018'
« Last Edit: 11/11/2017 08:02 pm by AncientU »
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Offline deruch

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #235 on: 11/12/2017 08:51 am »
The only things not being reused on CRS-13 is the US and Trunk.

And the Nose Cone (solar covers I count as part of each new trunk that has to be replaced anyways).
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Offline tdperk

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #236 on: 11/12/2017 04:00 pm »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".

Reusable sounds better - like it's following its intended path.

Reused seems like a secondhand afterthought of lower quality.

How many years until this is so commonplace the adjective gets dropped all together? We don't use it for flying on airplanes.

We'll probably be living with the adjective for a good while yet. Most rockets are expendable, and they will remain so for the foreseeable future.

No.

From: http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a27290/one-chart-spacex-dominate-rocket-launches/



A supermajority of marketable launches will soon be SpaceX launches, and they will be re-using their Block 5 F9s many times.  Not only are you laughably wrong, within 1 to 2 years the majority of launches where national vanity or security are not the over-riding concern will be on returned boosters.  When the BFR/BFS is in operation, almost all tons of material orbited as a percentage of tons orbited will be on systems intended from the outset for 100% re-fuel to refly systems.
« Last Edit: 11/12/2017 04:00 pm by tdperk »

Offline SweetWater

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #237 on: 11/12/2017 04:48 pm »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".

Reusable sounds better - like it's following its intended path.

Reused seems like a secondhand afterthought of lower quality.

How many years until this is so commonplace the adjective gets dropped all together? We don't use it for flying on airplanes.

We'll probably be living with the adjective for a good while yet. Most rockets are expendable, and they will remain so for the foreseeable future.

No.

From: http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a27290/one-chart-spacex-dominate-rocket-launches/



A supermajority of marketable launches will soon be SpaceX launches, and they will be re-using their Block 5 F9s many times.  Not only are you laughably wrong, within 1 to 2 years the majority of launches where national vanity or security are not the over-riding concern will be on returned boosters.  When the BFR/BFS is in operation, almost all tons of material orbited as a percentage of tons orbited will be on systems intended from the outset for 100% re-fuel to refly systems.

I stand by my previous post. One, regardless of SpaceX's commercial market share, most rockets - note that I did NOT say most launches - will be expendable well into the 2020s. Two, the chart you referenced does not take into account government launches. Three, SpaceX may have been awarded the bulk of commercial launch contracts for next year; however, those flights haven't launched yet, and it is foolish to count chickens before they hatch.

Also, while SpaceX has had a great year in 2017 and I wish them only the best going forward, a failure or partial failure next year could easily interrupt their launch cadence for at least a couple of months. If that failure occurs on a first stage which is being re-flown, it could temper the speed with which the industry is willing to embrace reuse.

Offline tdperk

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #238 on: 11/12/2017 06:02 pm »
Nearly everybody in the press is mixing up their terms (no surprise).  All Falcons are potentially reusable.  Not all of them are used that way.  For WIRED to say that NASA is going to use "reusable" rockets is a bad choice of words.  They should rather say that the rockets were previously used (which sounds like we're talking about a used car), or use SpaceX's phrase "flight proven".

Reusable sounds better - like it's following its intended path.

Reused seems like a secondhand afterthought of lower quality.

How many years until this is so commonplace the adjective gets dropped all together? We don't use it for flying on airplanes.

We'll probably be living with the adjective for a good while yet. Most rockets are expendable, and they will remain so for the foreseeable future.

No.

From: http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a27290/one-chart-spacex-dominate-rocket-launches/



A supermajority of marketable launches will soon be SpaceX launches, and they will be re-using their Block 5 F9s many times.  Not only are you laughably wrong, within 1 to 2 years the majority of launches where national vanity or security are not the over-riding concern will be on returned boosters.  When the BFR/BFS is in operation, almost all tons of material orbited as a percentage of tons orbited will be on systems intended from the outset for 100% re-fuel to refly systems.

I stand by my previous post. One, regardless of SpaceX's commercial market share, most rockets - note that I did NOT say most launches - will be expendable well into the 2020s.

If you are counting Estes, then by a very wide margin so.
Two, the chart you referenced does not take into account government launches. Three, SpaceX may have been awarded the bulk of commercial launch contracts for next year; however, those flights haven't launched yet, and it is foolish to count chickens before they hatch.

Also, while SpaceX has had a great year in 2017 and I wish them only the best going forward, a failure or partial failure next year could easily interrupt their launch cadence for at least a couple of months. If that failure occurs on a first stage which is being re-flown, it could temper the speed with which the industry is willing to embrace reuse.

I feel of that which isn't pathological skepticism amounts to your saying most sugar sold as such is in the form of tiny whitish cube like bits.   It is true and utterly without meaning.
« Last Edit: 11/13/2017 12:07 am by tdperk »

Offline guckyfan

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Re: SpaceX customers' views on reuse
« Reply #239 on: 11/12/2017 07:33 pm »
I stand by my previous post. One, regardless of SpaceX's commercial market share, most rockets - note that I did NOT say most launches - will be expendable well into the 2020s.

So you argue, that because SpaceX reuses their first stages, they fly less rockets than others? They have more launches, but because of reuse, less rockets.

Correct, but what is the point you are trying to make?

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