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The proposed payload for the NASA SLS is 64,000kg-120,000kg while the Falcon 9 is 10,450 kg. The proposed payload for the Falcon Heavy is 53,000 kg. So to matc
by krschultz 15y ago
The proposed payload for the NASA SLS is 64,000kg-120,000kg while the Falcon 9 is 10,450 kg. The proposed payload for the Falcon Heavy is 53,000 kg.
So to match 1 SLS launch you are looking at 6-12 Falcon 9s (which have flown) or 2-3 Falcon Heavy launches (which have not flown).
I don't think it's a stretch to say that using Space X would be significantly cheaper to get the same weight up there because the design work is already done. You probably would want to use the Falcon Heavy because you don't want to piece together 10 different things, but that is just 3 Falcon 9s strapped together which I can't imagine is as expensive as designing a new launch vehicle from scratch.
You are absolutely right that at this point NASA needs to get out of the launching game. Use the tax money for payloads whether that is a manned mission or robots.
- burgerbrain 15y ago"So to match 1 SLS launch you are looking at 6-12 Falcon 9s (which have flown) or 2-3 Falcon Heavy launches (which have not flown)." It is my impression that SpaceX anticipates doing exactly that sort of thing.
- FrojoS 15y agoElon Musk has said in public, that they hope to build an ultra heavy lift vehicle which would be more powerful than the Saturn V.
- berntb 15y agoThat is a direct competition to this new NASA job program. And will probably cost 10-20% per lbs to orbit? So NASA now has incentives to kill SpaceX, since they'll never be able to compete (except with political weight)? :-( Edit: OTOH, I guess NASA will never make the SLS fly anyway...
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- jsmcgd 15y agoExactly. Is this not very similar to the program that was recently cancelled? Reading this actually made me quite angry, and I'm someone who is a fan of new technology, especially new space technology. What new ground is being covered here? "President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that's exactly what we are doing at NASA". I have to disagree. This looks a lot like NASA is about to reinvent the Saturn V. Surely it's best for NASA to completely draw a line and vow to never develop any more (conventional) launch vehicles. In orbit assembly presumably is exactly the kind of thing they should be investigating. Unless of course they plan to do all their deep space exploration via a single rocket launch?
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