"We've launched more mass to orbit than *everyone else* did *every year* in history, unless you count the lovely Space Shuttle Orbiters by themselves.""What have you done today?"(Graphics by @planet4589: https://planet4589.org/space/stats/pay.html)
Falcon 9 launches 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida. We’ve now launched 80 times in 2023, delivering more than 1,000 metric tons to orbit
Falcon has delivered over 1000 tons to orbit this year, a world record
This is significantly more than any country has launched with their entire rocket fleet in a year. Second is peak Soviet Union at ~500 tons.For a present day comparison, the rest of the world has delivered ~250 tons to orbit so far this year, mostly by China.
Chart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.
Quote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.
Quote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.The compromise I came to for my method was to estimate how heavy an unmanned version of the shuttle would weigh and subtract the difference.The same will have to be done when a manned Starship flies too.
Quote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 09:06 pmQuote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.The compromise I came to for my method was to estimate how heavy an unmanned version of the shuttle would weigh and subtract the difference.The same will have to be done when a manned Starship flies too.Here is a related accounting dilemma: How do you count a Starship HLS? Clearly(?) a BO appendix P HLS is counted as 100% payload mass to orbit from Earth. So why is a Starship HLS not counted as 100% payload mass to orbit?
Quote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 11/12/2023 09:37 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 09:06 pmQuote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.The compromise I came to for my method was to estimate how heavy an unmanned version of the shuttle would weigh and subtract the difference.The same will have to be done when a manned Starship flies too.Here is a related accounting dilemma: How do you count a Starship HLS? Clearly(?) a BO appendix P HLS is counted as 100% payload mass to orbit from Earth. So why is a Starship HLS not counted as 100% payload mass to orbit?Keyword is payload as in deliverable payload. So only the payloads embarked aboard the Moonship (HLS Starship) should count including the cargo, crew & consumables.
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 11/12/2023 11:26 pmQuote from: DanClemmensen on 11/12/2023 09:37 pm<snip>Here is a related accounting dilemma: How do you count a Starship HLS? Clearly(?) a BO appendix P HLS is counted as 100% payload mass to orbit from Earth. So why is a Starship HLS not counted as 100% payload mass to orbit?Keyword is payload as in deliverable payload. So only the payloads embarked aboard the Moonship (HLS Starship) should count including the cargo, crew & consumables.But that leads to the bizarre conclusion that the much less capable BO HLS counts as more payload mass to orbit than the Starship HLS.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 11/12/2023 09:37 pm<snip>Here is a related accounting dilemma: How do you count a Starship HLS? Clearly(?) a BO appendix P HLS is counted as 100% payload mass to orbit from Earth. So why is a Starship HLS not counted as 100% payload mass to orbit?Keyword is payload as in deliverable payload. So only the payloads embarked aboard the Moonship (HLS Starship) should count including the cargo, crew & consumables.
<snip>Here is a related accounting dilemma: How do you count a Starship HLS? Clearly(?) a BO appendix P HLS is counted as 100% payload mass to orbit from Earth. So why is a Starship HLS not counted as 100% payload mass to orbit?
Quote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 09:06 pmQuote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.Depends on what the people are there for. If they're just there to lower the landing gear neither they nor their life support should count at all.But mass to orbit will always be an imperfect metric. It's better to just accept that than try to refine it into a different, equally imperfect metric.
The Q3 2023 Bryce Briefing is now available. Download the quarterly launch data: https://brycetech.com/briefing#BryceBriefing #Data #Space #Launch
SpaceX is tracking to launch over 80% of all Earth payload to orbit this year
Quote from: Barley on 11/12/2023 11:52 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 09:06 pmQuote from: Metalskin on 11/12/2023 08:55 pmQuote from: ZachF on 11/12/2023 08:48 pmChart looks somewhat similar to my dV adjusted mass to orbit chart.The biggest dilemma was how to tally the shuttle, as counting the entire mass of the orbiter isn’t a fair representation IMHO.What is the maximum payload total for space shuttle in a year?To me it's obvious that only payload should be included in such comparisons. Including the vehicle does not make sense IMHO.I would not count it if it wasn’t carrying people… but it is, so it’s also not fair to not count at least some of it.Depends on what the people are there for. If they're just there to lower the landing gear neither they nor their life support should count at all.But mass to orbit will always be an imperfect metric. It's better to just accept that than try to refine it into a different, equally imperfect metric.Personally, if I were to determine 'total mass to orbit' launched by an organization, company, or country I would even include the mass of empty rocket stages that entered orbit - even if the stage was only in orbit for less than a couple of orbits.That means that I would include in the mass SpaceX has placed into orbit at least the dry mass of the more than 80 Falcon 9 second stages launched this year - even though most of them have since reentered Earth's atmosphere. That alone would account for 332t to orbit even without taking into account any remaining propellants.My definition also means that the space shuttles entire mass would be included, not just the mass needed to support the crew. In 1985 the Shuttle launched 9 times - accounting for more than 700t placed into orbit.Payload mass to orbit would not count any upper stages that reach orbit unless the useful payload is attached to them.
Here’s what my dV adjusted YTD totals look like:1,721,637 kga 🌎 World1,373,983 kga 🇺🇸 United States 1,325,443 kga 🇺🇸 SpaceX180,032 kga 🇨🇳 China97,539 kga 🇷🇺 Russia 40,473 kga 🇺🇸 ULA36,383 kga 🇪🇺 Ariane & Vega24,459 kga 🇮🇳 India7,398 kga 🇯🇵 Japan738 kga 🇳🇿 RocketLab373 kga 🇰🇷 South Korea369 kga 🇰🇵 North Korea351 kga 🇮🇱 Israel13 kga 🇮🇷 IranWhile each orbit is calculated individually, here are what the adjustment factors look like for popular orbit insertions:1.00x 185km x 27d LEO1.06x 400km x 57d LEO-ISS1.24x 500km SSO2.22x GTO-18002.42x Molniya2.44x GTO-15002.75x TLI3.94x Direct GEOSo, Falcon 9 sending 17,250kg of Starlink satellites to 290km x 43d adjusts to 17,986. Sending a 5,500kg payload to GTO-1800 adjusts to 12,210.Ariane 5 sending 9,500kg to GTO-1500 adjusts to 23,180.Delta IV Heavy sending 6,000 kg directly to GEO adjusts to 23,640.Etc…
Quote from: ZachF on 12/07/2023 12:39 pmHere’s what my dV adjusted YTD totals look like:1,721,637 kga 🌎 World1,373,983 kga 🇺🇸 United States 1,325,443 kga 🇺🇸 SpaceX180,032 kga 🇨🇳 China97,539 kga 🇷🇺 Russia 40,473 kga 🇺🇸 ULA36,383 kga 🇪🇺 Ariane & Vega24,459 kga 🇮🇳 India7,398 kga 🇯🇵 Japan738 kga 🇳🇿 RocketLab373 kga 🇰🇷 South Korea369 kga 🇰🇵 North Korea351 kga 🇮🇱 Israel13 kga 🇮🇷 IranWhile each orbit is calculated individually, here are what the adjustment factors look like for popular orbit insertions:1.00x 185km x 27d LEO1.06x 400km x 57d LEO-ISS1.24x 500km SSO2.22x GTO-18002.42x Molniya2.44x GTO-15002.75x TLI3.94x Direct GEOSo, Falcon 9 sending 17,250kg of Starlink satellites to 290km x 43d adjusts to 17,986. Sending a 5,500kg payload to GTO-1800 adjusts to 12,210.Ariane 5 sending 9,500kg to GTO-1500 adjusts to 23,180.Delta IV Heavy sending 6,000 kg directly to GEO adjusts to 23,640.Etc…Do you have a spreadsheet with all this data that others can use? thx
Here’s what my dV adjusted YTD totals look like:1,721,637 kga 🌎 World1,373,983 kga 🇺🇸 United States 1,325,443 kga 🇺🇸 SpaceX180,032 kga 🇨🇳 China97,539 kga 🇷🇺 Russia 40,473 kga 🇺🇸 ULA36,383 kga 🇪🇺 Ariane & Vega24,459 kga 🇮🇳 India7,398 kga 🇯🇵 Japan738 kga 🇳🇿 RocketLab373 kga 🇰🇷 South Korea369 kga 🇰🇵 North Korea351 kga 🇮🇱 Israel13 kga 🇮🇷 Iran<snip>
Quote from: ZachF on 12/07/2023 12:39 pmHere’s what my dV adjusted YTD totals look like:1,721,637 kga World1,373,983 kga United States 1,325,443 kga SpaceX180,032 kga China97,539 kga Russia 40,473 kga ULA36,383 kga Ariane & Vega24,459 kga India7,398 kga Japan738 kga RocketLab373 kga South Korea369 kga North Korea351 kga Israel13 kga IranWhile each orbit is calculated individually, here are what the adjustment factors look like for popular orbit insertions:1.00x 185km x 27d LEO1.06x 400km x 57d LEO-ISS1.24x 500km SSO2.22x GTO-18002.42x Molniya2.44x GTO-15002.75x TLI3.94x Direct GEOSo, Falcon 9 sending 17,250kg of Starlink satellites to 290km x 43d adjusts to 17,986. Sending a 5,500kg payload to GTO-1800 adjusts to 12,210.Ariane 5 sending 9,500kg to GTO-1500 adjusts to 23,180.Delta IV Heavy sending 6,000 kg directly to GEO adjusts to 23,640.Etc…What are you counting extra in this year. "total launched 1,172,541 kg this year as per this table as of 2023-12-08" as per Wikipedia Starship was payload less. Crew Dragon mass included?? (11 pics for wiki explanation)
Here’s what my dV adjusted YTD totals look like:1,721,637 kga World1,373,983 kga United States 1,325,443 kga SpaceX180,032 kga China97,539 kga Russia 40,473 kga ULA36,383 kga Ariane & Vega24,459 kga India7,398 kga Japan738 kga RocketLab373 kga South Korea369 kga North Korea351 kga Israel13 kga IranWhile each orbit is calculated individually, here are what the adjustment factors look like for popular orbit insertions:1.00x 185km x 27d LEO1.06x 400km x 57d LEO-ISS1.24x 500km SSO2.22x GTO-18002.42x Molniya2.44x GTO-15002.75x TLI3.94x Direct GEOSo, Falcon 9 sending 17,250kg of Starlink satellites to 290km x 43d adjusts to 17,986. Sending a 5,500kg payload to GTO-1800 adjusts to 12,210.Ariane 5 sending 9,500kg to GTO-1500 adjusts to 23,180.Delta IV Heavy sending 6,000 kg directly to GEO adjusts to 23,640.Etc…
