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ORAC
5th Aug 2018, 20:35
For those unaware, SpaceX is expecting to start test flights of the BFR in 2019 and have it in service as a replacement for their current Falcon and Falcon Heavy rockets around 2022....

https://www.defensenews.com/space/2018/08/02/one-possible-job-for-spacexs-bfr-taking-the-air-forces-cargo-in-and-out-of-space/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFR_(rocket)

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/08/other-nations-know-spacex-has-won-but-the-usa-could-build-a-lead-in-space-sustainable-to-2100.html

Stuff
7th Aug 2018, 08:54
In the first article, Gen Everhart is quoted as saying:

“Think about this. Thirty minutes, 150 metric tons, [and] less than the cost of a C-5,” he continued. In comparison, it would take the service’s cargo aircraft take anywhere from eight to 10 hours to get to the other side of the world.

What cost is he talking about that makes the BFR cheaper than a C-5?

Unit cost, BFR: US$335 million, C-5C: US$129.17 million

Cost per launch, BFR: US$7 million, C-5C: ??? but it has to be less than $7M to fly half way around the world.

ORAC
7th Aug 2018, 12:29
Depends on what it would cost to build a C-5 now. C-17 cost in 2013 was about £200M/$260M. Present estimate for the BFR booster is $230M.

(The Interplanetary transport system (ITS) adds about $150M for a tanker and $200M for a spaceship - but they’re the extra bits to get to Mars, not for an earth-earth hop.)

glad rag
7th Aug 2018, 23:45
I'm pretty sure that the USAF now have congressional remit to compulsorily include reusable as opposed to expendable launch systems.

considering the VAST difference in costs it's a win, win all round.

Well apart from the legacy launch providing dinosaurs, who, like their namesakes,are actually dead, but just haven't realised it yet.

JWST anyone? SLS is far too easy a target.

Lyneham Lad
15th Aug 2018, 17:32
On the BBC News website. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45194333)

A mysterious Russian satellite displaying "very abnormal behaviour" has raised alarm in the US, according to a State Department official.

NutLoose
14th Oct 2020, 18:06
They are working on the dream of delivering the equivalent of a C17 load of 80 tons to anywhere on the planet in under an hour

https://www.militarytimes.com/space/2020/10/07/the-pentagon-wants-spacex-delivering-cargo-around-the-globe-and-a-live-test-could-come-next-year/?utm_source=clavis

ORAC
14th Oct 2020, 19:23
Delivering it is perfectly credible.

The scissors jack to unload, and the refuelling. turnaround and launch is a bit trickier....

TURIN
14th Oct 2020, 22:46
The first test flight of the now renamed Starship prototype SN8 is to take place in a matter of days.
Damn shame there's no transatlantic flights to Texas at the moment or I'd be there up front and centre.

rattman
14th Oct 2020, 23:10
Delivering it is perfectly credible.

The scissors jack to unload, and the refuelling. turnaround and launch is a bit trickier....

Depends on reason behind the delivey. If just sending emergency supplies to a permenent base, like deigo garcia, these will be a non issue. But if you sending it to a marine beach head or a cut off unit then money is no object, just bulldoze them into a corner somewhere as refueling and then the actual relaunch is completely impractical the a without fuel or flame diverters the output of 3 raptors will be pretty devestating

Other option would be landing them on barges out to sea, this is already the plan for point to point, maybe a barge for landing supported by one of the old carriers, it could use reactors to power a sabietier process to create fuel to relaunch. Theres going to be a lot of options, some will work and some wont,

ORAC
15th Oct 2020, 06:31
The first test flight of the now renamed Starship prototype SN8 is to take place in a matter of days. Brings back memories....


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x426/image_e10441469197da5d290551402bf0e458e2f49987.jpeg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/367x518/image_46aa0015c8a9416c7782a3e5b6892296a31b7b0b.jpeg

goofer3
15th Oct 2020, 11:39
An interesting 1hr 25 min video by Elon Musk relating to Starship. Use of 301 stainless steel, low earth orbit refuelling etc. Click on Starship update.
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

NutLoose
15th Oct 2020, 17:48
I can understand using them to resupply during wartime operations etc as suggested, but lobbing up resupply rockets unannounced during a war you might get a heck of a lot coming back the other way

tartare
16th Oct 2020, 00:05
Crikey, it really does look like a flying wheat silo.
Here's hoping they've got their math right and that it can withstand max-Q.
The way back down sounds interesting as well - no heatshield - seems they're just relying on stainless strength, lack of ductility under heating and piped cooling on the windward side?

rattman
16th Oct 2020, 03:47
Crikey, it really does look like a flying wheat silo.
Here's hoping they've got their math right and that it can withstand max-Q.
The way back down sounds interesting as well - no heatshield - seems they're just relying on stainless strength, lack of ductility under heating and piped cooling on the windward side?

That was last years, its been almost 12 months, hes doing a speech at the mars society confrerence that might have some updates of starship and theres an expected starship update in november some time. They are testing heat sheild on starship and it is expected that they will cover some the craft in areas of very high heat

goofer3
17th Oct 2020, 07:52
Parts of the Starship will be covered with hexagonal heat resistant tiles. He talks about it at minute 21 in the video.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x375/starship_tiles7_86379bf63fa8a26e97f19ed25e54fe940e696e69.jpg

bobward
17th Oct 2020, 16:40
After almost 60 years science finally catches up to Spike Milligan.
Anyone else here remember the Jet Propelled Guided NAAFI from that much loved Goon Show?

ORAC
8th Jun 2021, 06:10
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pentagon-rocket-plan-to-send-supplies-anywhere-in-an-hour-g5fmb7jrt

Pentagon rocket plan to send supplies anywhere in an hour

A test flight of a rocket designed to deliver cargo anywhere in the world within an hour has been given the go-ahead by the US air force.

The rocket, carrying a payload of up to 100 tonnes, equivalent to that of a large C-17 transport aircraft, would take off on a trajectory that takes it to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere before looping down to a projected landing spot.

The rocket could also carry people to remote destinations but initially the idea is to create a superfast delivery service, particularly for special operations troops serving in “austere” environments.

The US air force budget proposals for next year include nearly $48 million for the rocket cargo programme to allow weapons, ammunition and other essentials to be sent to forces wherever in the world they are deployed in the shortest possible time.

The rockets are designed to be reusable and testing of two commercially built systems is expected to begin next year.

Two companies — SpaceX (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-quiet-town-with-elon-musk-s-spacex-rockets-roaring-by-3jrws6v2f), founded by the billionaire Elon Musk, and Exploration Architecture Corporation, founded in 2007 by the space architect Sam Ximenes — are involved in developing the concept.….

One of the main difficulties now is working out how a cargo, typically in the rocket’s nose, can be quickly unloaded in hostile conditions. There are also questions about how close to buildings or people a rocket would be able to land and what kind of terrain would make a suitable landing zone.

It has been suggested that cargo could be dropped by parachute without the rocket having to land…..

ORAC
8th Jun 2021, 14:46
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/557026-is-the-space-force-about-to-acquire-spacex-starships

Is the Space Force about to acquire SpaceX Starships?