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> Arianespace and SpaceX are not even playing in the same court. Ariane 6 is made for heavy payloads, SpaceX can barely lift medium weight satellites. Ariane 6
by balfirevic 6y ago
> Arianespace and SpaceX are not even playing in the same court. Ariane 6 is made for heavy payloads, SpaceX can barely lift medium weight satellites.
Ariane 6, which isn't even flying yet, is projected to lift 10350 kg - 21650 kg to LEO, depending on the version [0].
Falcon Heavy can lift 63800 kg to LEO in expendable mode [1].
You were indeed correct that they are not playing in the same court.
[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_6
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy
- ohgodplsno 6y agoSpaceX _pretends_ it can lift 63 tons. In practice, their payloads have been a few tons at best. Whereas Ariane's track record with Ariane 5 is almost flawless and actually hitting those announced maximums. But sure, trust the company that has regularly been lying on their abilities :)
- balfirevic 6y ago> SpaceX _pretends_ it can lift 63 tons You can't be fucking serious. Falcon Heavy launched 6465 kg satellite to GTO, while landing all 3 boosters.
- ohgodplsno 6y agoYeah. 6400kg. 6.4 tons. Not 63. Nor the 26 they pretend they can do on GTO
- balfirevic 6y agoAre you at all familiar with the payload scaling between different orbits and the payload penalty for reusability?