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My guess is we'll find F9 boosters good for between 20 and 25 launches before refurb becomes expensive enough that it's better to weld up some new tanks and bui
by asadotzler 3y ago
My guess is we'll find F9 boosters good for between 20 and 25 launches before refurb becomes expensive enough that it's better to weld up some new tanks and build another batch of Merlins. There will be a pretty big range I think. We already see they've got favorites that are far outpacing the rest of the fleet presumably because they're easier to refurb and refly. So, I think some will retire around 15 flights, and some around 30, with the low 20s being the top of the bell curve.
- justrealist 3y ago> We already see they've got favorites that are far outpacing the rest of the fleet My guess is that they are keeping some in the low #s so they are available for external customers, and running others through the gauntlet for Starlink launches. Like all things equal they'd rather have 1 rocket with 4 launches and 1 with 20, than both with 12.
- nickik 3y agoWe know for sure that even later in the Block 5 generation the re-usability got better. So that isn't controversial. I would assume their 'favorites' are being pushed in order to get engineering information on those flights, not because they are superior to the others of the same build.