Re:SpaceX Soft Lands Falcon 9 Rocket First Stage
by XorNot on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @08:47PM
(#8072369)
You also always have the option of just building a heavier lift rocket - which is what SpaceX is starting to spin up for. I'd imagine the F9H's successor/bigger brother is going to be designed with provisions for the same type of return profile.
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Re:SpaceX Soft Lands Falcon 9 Rocket First Stage
by InclinedPlane on Wednesday July 23, 2014 @07:54AM
(#8073846)
According to SpaceX the Falcon Heavy will only fly with reusable first stages. That will bring the payload down but the payload was very high before. The Falcon Heavy should still be able to lift more than 20 tonnes to LEO, which is equivalent to the Delta IV Heavy. And with reusability it should be able to do so at a cost comparable to or cheaper than today's expendable Falcon 9s.