I think Elon Musk accidentaly dropped a big bit of info.

[tavert]

Hum. No they're not. F9 1.1 is the upgraded version with the new Merlin 1D and stretched tanks that will indeed start flying this summer. F9R is a significantly different beast, with lower payload capacity due to recovery systems.

Aside from the landing legs, what other hardware will they need? RTLS recovery will require a different trajectory so that'll be a bit longer of a wait, but they're doing propulsive landing tests over water starting from the very first F9 v1.1 launch for MDA. Is it just a question of whether or not they put the legs on that launch?

Designating the upcoming launch for MDA F9R is a bit ambitious/generous, but how far off would it be hardware-wise?

[magnemoe]

Thanks for that figure!

Yes it made sense, another thing, SpaceX is building an launch facility in Texas, wonder if part of this it to make it easier to recover fist stages and later falcon heavy boosters at either Florida or the Caribbean?

[Nibb31]

Yes it made sense, another thing, SpaceX is building an launch facility in Texas, wonder if part of this it to make it easier to recover fist stages and later falcon heavy boosters at either Florida or the Caribbean?

That's what I was thinking. However, if the boosters fall down ballistically, they would still be closer to Texas than to Florida. There is also a lot of naval traffic in the Gulf of Mexico, so it might be tricky to establish the drop zones. Maybe they could convert an old oil rig into a landing platform, refuel the F9 there, and then fly it back to Texas on its own power?

However, I think the plan is still to fly the booster back to Texas to reduce turnaround times.

As for the Hyperloop, it's still pretty mysterious... It sounds like it could be some sort of modernized giant electromagnetic version of the old pneumatic tube delivery system. Not sure how realistic it is though...

Edited June 10, 2013 by Nibb31

[MDBenson]

SpaceX have constantly proven doubters wrong. The new F9R design that uses self-landing first stages is a complete departure from the old NASA model of throw out a 'chute and hope it slows down. These will effectively be intelligent spacecraft that fly to their sep point then fly home. I'm confident it'll work. It might take a try or two to get it right, it might not too given their track record, but it'll work.

Also I thought the issues they had with the F9 first stages involved parachutes not working as intended (thus they decided they were not feasible).

As for the Mars idea? I think it was just Elon's way of saying 'IPO? No chance!'

Edited June 10, 2013 by MDBenson

[Rune]

Aside from the landing legs, what other hardware will they need? RTLS recovery will require a different trajectory so that'll be a bit longer of a wait, but they're doing propulsive landing tests over water starting from the very first F9 v1.1 launch for MDA. Is it just a question of whether or not they put the legs on that launch?

Designating the upcoming launch for MDA F9R is a bit ambitious/generous, but how far off would it be hardware-wise?

Well, structurally they are bound to be very different beast. See, the Falcon 9 first stage is the world's highest mass ratio first stage. Which basically ends up meaning it's quite flimsy, and unsurprisingly it breaks apart on reentry from high velocity. F9R's flight profile includes an earlier first staging event, while still at Mach 6 or thereabouts, so F9R needs less fuel and more structure to handle the mechanical loads. Plus, the return to landing site maneuver is done with an empty rocket stage, you don't need much fuel to have awesome mass ratio.

However, the control system can very well be the same, and the programming and stuff, not to mention the engines, can be thoroughly tested with F9 flights. There is, however, the nontrivial problem of integration, which would be totally different.

But things are indeed progressing, and the F9R's first stage just did a test firing on McGregor, I just found:

Rune. 112 seconds of flame and thunder.

[tavert]

Does the first stage of F9 v1.1 have the same mass ratio? They changed quite a bit, I imagine the longer first stage has higher structural margins to account for the higher thrust engines and all this reusability planning. It's not like they're using balloon tanks, it just looks like friction stir welding is a vastly superior manufacturing technique for this task.

Anyway, guess we'll just have to wait and see what they call this next launch. I would not be terribly surprised to see them continue to make substantial structural changes over the next few launches.

[Dockillar]

I'm excited. Nasa or not, these next years of space exploration and sciences are going to be amazing.