Flutterby™! : Space-X to the ISS?

Space-X to the ISS?

2011-08-17 19:23:33.039925+02 by Dan Lyke 4 comments

Fuck the Space Shuttle: Space-X plans November 30^th flight to the ISS.

(Thanks, Larry)

[ related topics: Aviation Space & Astronomy ]

comments in descending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2011-08-20 01:41:39.601097+02 by: TheSHAD0W

Yup. Schoolbusses can still be lofted via big dumb rockets and then serviced by smaller vehicles.

#Comment Re: made: 2011-08-18 23:23:55.170627+02 by: Larry Burton

Space-X has given NASA a quote of $133 Million to deliver a fully loaded Dragon X capsule to the ISS. NASA's cost to launch the Space Shuttle was $450 Million. Space-X has stated if there are cost overruns Space-X will eat them.

Here's some interesting reading from the Space-X site.

#Comment Re: made: 2011-08-18 20:46:26.9989+02 by: Dan Lyke

I think the problem was that, aside from Ms. Frizzle's vehicle that can presumably get there itself, the need for a school bus in low earth orbit is minimal. The shuttle was an expensive way to get big heavy payloads into space, an SUV where we really need a small commuter car or a bicycle for a few decades 'til we can learn a bit more about how to get off this rock.

And the resources it sucked out of NASA meant that the far more interesting missions got pushed to the wayside.

#Comment Re: made: 2011-08-18 19:59:43.845083+02 by: andylyke

Neat. But can it deliver a school bus (or equivalent) to the ISS?

It seems to me that the existing shuttles were al built by private contractors, with coordination by NASA. Space X is now ready to deliver a Mercury capsule to low orbit. Think Yuri Gagarin. Shouldn't we be building on what we ha[ve|d]?