SpaceX Plans for Heavy Lift

[realtime]

Using a new rocket engine, the Merlin 2:

Although the company doesn’t plan to release specifications for the engine until some time next year, he later added that the Merlin 2 would be the largest rocket engine in the world, “where an engine is defined as one thrust chamber.”

The guy doesn't lack for vision.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1

[Chris Bergin]

Of all people I should know to look before posting a new thread when it's already on here

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=834&posts=2#M9352

Sorry Real...I'll ask about a merge facility on this forum.

[realtime]

S'ok.  It happens to everybody.

[publiusr]

I'm just glad to hear more folks talking about heavy lift:

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1

http://www.spacefellowship.com/News/?p=1208

Musk has hinted at the development of something called the “BFR” (where B stands for “big” and R for “rocket”), a heavy-lift vehicle far larger than the Falcon family of vehicles. At SpaceVision2005 Musk disclosed that the BFR, in its current iteration, would use “multiple” Merlin 2 engines. The BFR would be able to place 100 tons in low Earth orbit, putting it in competition with NASA’s planned shuttle-derived heavy-lift launcher. The BFR is so big, Musk said, that it’s too large for the BFTS at their Texas test site: even if they beefed up the stand, he said, the overpressure from the engine tests would break windows in a nearby town. Musk said they would have to test the vehicle either at the launch site or, perhaps, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

[Avron]

from spacefightnow.com

"SpaceX poised to reveal schedule for debut launch
Commercial start-up company Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, will host a press conference Friday afternoon to announce plans for its inaugural launch of the small Falcon 1 rocket from the Marshall Islands. The vehicle will launch a student-built military satellite. We'll post a full story following the 5 p.m. EST briefing."

[publiusr]

I really wish he had launched Falcon V first. If one engine quits--it doesn't show. All the reporters see a rocket go to space, and only the engineers notice. If a single rocket Falcon I has its engine quit--it goes in the drink in front of everyone.

Sometimes saving money ends up COSTING money.

Go with engine out, and save Falcon I till later--that would have been my plan.

[Chris Bergin]

Avron - 18/11/2005  5:00 AM

from spacefightnow.com

"SpaceX poised to reveal schedule for debut launch
Commercial start-up company Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, will host a press conference Friday afternoon to announce plans for its inaugural launch of the small Falcon 1 rocket from the Marshall Islands. The vehicle will launch a student-built military satellite. We'll post a full story following the 5 p.m. EST briefing."

We have live updates on the conference and an article to follow right after.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=860&posts=6