Author Topic: Wikitribune, Q&A: Astronaut Ron Garan on Falcon Heavy and the future...... (Read 1773 times)

Aussie_Space_Nut · « **on:** 02/25/2018 12:42 am »

Wikitribune, Q&A: Astronaut Ron Garan on Falcon Heavy and the future of space exploration.

https://www.wikitribune.com/story/2018/02/24/space/qa-astronaut-ron-garan-on-falcon-heavy-and-the-future-of-space-exploration/51199/

Nomadd · « **Reply #1 on:** 02/25/2018 01:19 am »

Can't get their site to work right or I'd explain to Brandy that the guys in that one photo are pretty obviously not on the ISS.

Aussie_Space_Nut · « **Reply #2 on:** 02/25/2018 09:32 am »

Article is fixed now. :-)

AncientU · « **Reply #3 on:** 02/25/2018 10:52 am »

Great (but too short) article.
Garan's perspective is impressive.

philw1776 · « **Reply #4 on:** 02/25/2018 04:44 pm »

Nice post/article.
"I think it’s pretty sure that the long-term vision of SpaceX is to have the Falcon Heavy human-rated. Because in everything they’ve talked about, their long-range plans have the Falcon Heavy putting humans on the moon, on Mars, etc. "

To me this is a non-sequitur. I'm unaware of SpaceX talking about FH putting people on the moon. It could become part of SpaceX's plans IF the US government contracts them to do so, but even IF, development of an FH launched lunar lander would be a huge distraction from the Mars goal. Lunar first with FH and new cis-lunar lander return craft strategy by SpaceX only happens if internal SpaceX funding for BFR/BFS proves infeasible.

A less distracting alternative has FH hauling un-crewed mass (rocket propellant?) up to LEO in cargo support of a govt funded lunar program. Given what I forsee in slippage of this still yet to be funded lunar program, BFR/S should be available first, even given Elon time.