4 ms·

they might as well put a real payload on it right? It's not exactly cheap to launch a full rocket, especially when you involve hundreds of engineers. I would

they might as well put a real payload on it right? It's not exactly cheap to launch a full rocket, especially when you involve hundreds of engineers. I would be curious to know what's more expensive. Build again a satellite that exploded or planning an empty launch?

IshKebab 10y ago
They could definitely launch cheap things that you still on need on ISS like water, fuel and food.
- lmm 10y ago
  Any launch to the ISS involves expending a second stage, and IIRC NASA requires the Dragons to be certified (as much for the safety of the ISS as anything else) in a way that currently requires a new one each time.
  - nicolapcweek94 10y ago
    That doesn't stop them from launching a new Dragon (2? hopefully they'll reuse CRS8's booster before that, but it'd be cool to see the first Dragon 2 on top of the first booster landed on the ship) on top of a reused booster though... and of course, reusing the first stage doesn't mean reusing the second stage (which is, in fact, never even recovered) Moot point though, since SES has pretty much already bought the first reused launch ( http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/23/ses-eager-to-fly-satellite-aboard-used-falcon-9-rocket/ http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/23/ses-eager-to-fly-satell... )
    - lmm 10y ago
      > That doesn't stop them from launching a new Dragon (2? hopefully they'll reuse CRS8's booster before that, but it'd be cool to see the first Dragon 2 on top of the first booster landed on the ship) on top of a reused booster though... and of course, reusing the first stage doesn't mean reusing the second stage (which is, in fact, never even recovered) Sure. My point is that kind of mission is nowhere near as cheap as "throw a bunch of food/water/fuel on top and send it up".
      - ethbro 10y ago
        Start launching fuel & components for an Earth-Mars transfer vehicle up on the refurbished rockets? SpaceX LEO parts depot: struts-while-u-wait!
        lmm 10y ago
        Would still involve an expended second stage, and would be unlikely to be usable. In-orbit assembly is still extremely expensive because spacewalk time is extremely expensive and self-assembly isn't quite there - it's usually cheaper to launch a vehicle in one piece (which AIUI is SpaceX's plan), even if you have to build a bigger rocket to do so.
iamcreasy 10y ago
If I recall correctly first time Dragon flew it used water as test payload.
- tankenmate 10y ago
  And a wheel of cheese.
TrevorJ 10y ago
there are several customers who've expressed interest in being the first to use a reused core. It's likely the first re launch will be a commercial customer.

IshKebab 10y ago

They could definitely launch cheap things that you still on need on ISS like water, fuel and food.

lmm 10y ago
Any launch to the ISS involves expending a second stage, and IIRC NASA requires the Dragons to be certified (as much for the safety of the ISS as anything else) in a way that currently requires a new one each time.
- nicolapcweek94 10y ago
  That doesn't stop them from launching a new Dragon (2? hopefully they'll reuse CRS8's booster before that, but it'd be cool to see the first Dragon 2 on top of the first booster landed on the ship) on top of a reused booster though... and of course, reusing the first stage doesn't mean reusing the second stage (which is, in fact, never even recovered) Moot point though, since SES has pretty much already bought the first reused launch ( http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/23/ses-eager-to-fly-satellite-aboard-used-falcon-9-rocket/ http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/23/ses-eager-to-fly-satell... )
  - lmm 10y ago
    > That doesn't stop them from launching a new Dragon (2? hopefully they'll reuse CRS8's booster before that, but it'd be cool to see the first Dragon 2 on top of the first booster landed on the ship) on top of a reused booster though... and of course, reusing the first stage doesn't mean reusing the second stage (which is, in fact, never even recovered) Sure. My point is that kind of mission is nowhere near as cheap as "throw a bunch of food/water/fuel on top and send it up".
    - ethbro 10y ago
      Start launching fuel & components for an Earth-Mars transfer vehicle up on the refurbished rockets? SpaceX LEO parts depot: struts-while-u-wait!
      - lmm 10y ago
        Would still involve an expended second stage, and would be unlikely to be usable. In-orbit assembly is still extremely expensive because spacewalk time is extremely expensive and self-assembly isn't quite there - it's usually cheaper to launch a vehicle in one piece (which AIUI is SpaceX's plan), even if you have to build a bigger rocket to do so.

iamcreasy 10y ago

If I recall correctly first time Dragon flew it used water as test payload.

tankenmate 10y ago
And a wheel of cheese.

TrevorJ 10y ago

there are several customers who've expressed interest in being the first to use a reused core. It's likely the first re launch will be a commercial customer.