Just another Apollo? Part two (2005)

Re:Just another Apollo? Part two (2005) by Gravityloss on Tuesday June 14, 2022 @09:10AM (#31738883)

In rocketry one big needed technology before scale up can happen is reuse. Probably also intact abort and other technologies.

One should look at the operational capacity, not the theoretical capacity. Who cares if you have an airplane that can theoretically do Mach 3 if it's being repaired in the hangar and you need it now? In airplane lingo a plane like that is called a "Hangar Queen"

Falcon 9 is a huge step in the operational direction. But more is needed. Can one do two flights in 24 hours? Can one save the second stage too? Just the fairing? Or can one make the second stage cheaper? Or salvage it in orbit?

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Re:Just another Apollo? Part two (2005) by wolverine876 on Tuesday June 14, 2022 @10:03AM (#31739657)

> In rocketry one big needed technology before scale up can happen is reuse.

There are other ways to reduce cost, such as cheaper rockets, more efficient fuels, etc. Whatever SpaceX does isn't the only possibility or a necessity.

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Re:Just another Apollo? Part two (2005) by Gravityloss on Tuesday June 14, 2022 @03:50PM (#31745094)

Those also help, certainly.

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Re:Just another Apollo? Part two (2005) by mmmeff on Tuesday June 14, 2022 @09:34AM (#31739218)

This is why newer space startups like Stoke are aiming to produce totally reusable second stages. The goal is commercial airline-like refuel and relaunch.

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