The top of the SpaceX BFR is the BFS (Big Falcon Spaceship) has three mini-wings with landing pads. It also has 7 Raptor engines. Two of wing-legs actuate.
The major design decisions should now be complete. Elon Musk says hopper flights will be next year. High altitude and high-velocity flights will be 2020. Booster tests will be in 2020. First orbital flights could be in two to three years. There will be many test flights before putting people. They will try to put an unmanned lunar orbit flight first before putting a person on board.
The BFS will use its entire body to break and will then use the mini-wing fins to land vertically. The landing will look epic.
If you are landing on the moon then you just need thrusters.
SpaceX BFR is being built now. They have built the first cylinder section.
They are building the dome and engine section soon.
Raptor is a 200-ton engine. Aiming for 300-atmosphere chamber pressure. ISP above 380. Stage combustion, full flow, gas-gas engine.
They will do a lot of test launches before putting anyone on-board.
Launching the satellites and servicing the space station is helping to fund the BFR.
Any customers for BFR are very helpful for funding the rocket.
Yusaku Maezawa is the first customer.
He said “I choose to go to the moon”.
He was a skate boarder in Santa Monica.
He was a musician.
He started his company twenty years ago.
He started a private fashion label Zozo.
Why did he purchase all of the seats on the BFR?
Why did he want to go to the moon?
He wanted to give back to the world and contribute to world peace.
Ever since he was a kid, he was inspired by the moon.
He chooses to go to the moon with artists.
He will invite artists to go to the moon with him.
The amount of money that Yusaku has deposited and will pay for the mission will make a material difference to the BFR development budget.
Elon Musk calls Yusaku very brave and he is the real deal.
He has a website dearmoon.earth
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
Yes, I was assuming a landing. But at least you wouldn’t have to lower heavy items not used during the flight from near the top using a winch.
One more thing that stands out on the rendering is that the wings don’t look aerodynamic. The look like they have a rectangular-ish cross-section with a blunt rear edge. I’m guessing they’ll fix that in the production version?
A drop-off probably still requires landing. If the engines are firing for a hover-drop, they could burn the dropped cargo.
Up until now, wikipedia /wiki/BFR_(rocket) said the BFS raptors had 375 s Isp, so 380 s would be a slight improvement. But now that wiki article states the Isp as 330 s, same as the booster. And it says the BFS raptors will be sea-level for now, with an option to upgrade to vacuum later. The BFS fires mostly above the separation altitude (except for landing), so why not go with vacuum from the start? Or at least something intermediate? Another thing that’s not clear in this new design, is how are they planning the refueling arrangement? The previous design had the fuel lines in the back, so it couldn’t use the engines while docked to a tanker. Would be interesting if the new design allows that.
I like the aft cargo provision. Makes it much easier to drop something off. And, glad to hear that he’s not going alone, that would have been such a waste. Maybe he’ll pick the Sailor Moon creator for one of his artists?
The unmanned test flights could put lots of useful cargo into orbit, I’m thinking something cheap on earth, and really useful in orbit, like water ice, and frozen food. You could send up a fabric sphere, including a sunshade, and a small kicker motor, inflate it with low pressure gas, pump a load of water into it, let the ice freeze, and lift the orbit high enough to last for decades.
I’d speculate that they’re going with sea-level engines for the hop testing and then will switch to the vacuum version for use on top of a booster. The only real difference between them is the bell right?You don’t really want to use vacuum engines at sea level too much or so I understand.I thought that was the point of the mixed engine design you’d have mostly vacuum engines but a couple of sea level engines too and only use those for retro landings on Earth since you’d be landing much lighter anyway. But they could go to the mixed approach when they implement the vacuum engines.It may be that development is lagging on the vacuum Raptors. Maybe they want to do space testing on them?
Yes I was assuming a landing. But at least you wouldn’t have to lower heavy items not used during the flight from near the top using a winch.
One more thing that stands out on the rendering is that the wings don’t look aerodynamic. The look like they have a rectangular-ish cross-section with a blunt rear edge. I’m guessing they’ll fix that in the production version?
A drop-off probably still requires landing. If the engines are firing for a hover-drop they could burn the dropped cargo.
Up until now wikipedia /wiki/BFR_(rocket) said the BFS raptors had 375 s Isp so 380 s would be a slight improvement. But now that wiki article states the Isp as 330 s same as the booster. And it says the BFS raptors will be sea-level for now with an option to upgrade to vacuum later. The BFS fires mostly above the separation altitude (except for landing) so why not go with vacuum from the start? Or at least something intermediate?Another thing that’s not clear in this new design is how are they planning the refueling arrangement? The previous design had the fuel lines in the back so it couldn’t use the engines while docked to a tanker. Would be interesting if the new design allows that.
I like the aft cargo provision. Makes it much easier to drop something off. And glad to hear that he’s not going alone that would have been such a waste. Maybe he’ll pick the Sailor Moon creator for one of his artists?
The unmanned test flights could put lots of useful cargo into orbit I’m thinking something cheap on earth and really useful in orbit like water ice and frozen food.You could send up a fabric sphere including a sunshade and a small kicker motor inflate it with low pressure gas pump a load of water into it let the ice freeze and lift the orbit high enough to last for decades.
The new design looks kinda like a whale.
Yes, that makes sense. I forgot about the hop testing.
I’d speculate that they’re going with sea-level engines for the hop testing, and then will switch to the vacuum version for use on top of a booster. The only real difference between them is the bell, right? You don’t really want to use vacuum engines at sea level too much, or so I understand. I thought that was the point of the mixed engine design, you’d have mostly vacuum engines, but a couple of sea level engines, too, and only use those for retro landings on Earth, since you’d be landing much lighter anyway. But they could go to the mixed approach when they implement the vacuum engines. It may be that development is lagging on the vacuum Raptors. Maybe they want to do space testing on them?
The new design looks kinda like a whale.
Yes that makes sense. I forgot about the hop testing.
I suppose they know what they’re doing – but are 3 landing legs enough for stability? Especially if they land on a barge?
Maybe – but Musk made a point of saying that they aren’t at all intended to provide lift – just control. And a little added drag while decending tail-first might actually be a positive?
I knew this was a PR distraction. Now I’ve been proven right: Musk, Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk Statements Tesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators. Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had “funding secured” for the deal, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the company’s shares higher. bloom.bg/2D9F8mI Good day to be a short seller!
I suppose they know what they’re doing – but are 3 landing legs enough for stability? Especially if they land on a barge?
Maybe – but Musk made a point of saying that they aren’t at all intended to provide lift – just control. And a little added drag while decending tail-first might actually be a positive?
I knew this was a PR distraction. Now I’ve been proven right:Musk Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk StatementsTesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators.Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had “funding secured” for the deal said the people who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the company’s shares higher.bloom.bg/2D9F8mIGood day to be a short seller!”
That’s not just being fair, its p!ssing all over the Musk Fluffers of NBF! thanks for the support! 🙂
To be fair, if being scheduled within 1w proximity to the breaking of a negative story about something he owns or is involved with is evidence of it being a PR distraction, there wouldn’t be many weeks in the year Space X could make an announcement in the clear.
That’s not just being fair its p!ssing all over the Musk Fluffers of NBF! thanks for the support! 🙂
To be fair if being scheduled within 1w proximity to the breaking of a negative story about something he owns or is involved with is evidence of it being a PR distraction there wouldn’t be many weeks in the year Space X could make an announcement in the clear.
No you ain’t. In fact, it’s the first time you’ve been able to say there’s any investigation without lying. And its not the first time you’ve said it, liar.
No you ain’t. In fact it’s the first time you’ve been able to say there’s any investigation without lying.And its not the first time you’ve said it liar.
True to form as a right wing troll. Global warming is a fraud and Elon Musk is a con artist. Anything that the corporate oligopolies put in your mouth you then regurgitate without and of your own thought. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.
True to form as a right wing troll. Global warming is a fraud and Elon Musk is a con artist. Anything that the corporate oligopolies put in your mouth you then regurgitate without and of your own thought. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.
A fourth leg adds only very marginally to stability. And not at all if making only 3 of them permits them to stick out further.
Go Spacex, Go Elon. Spacex engineers are the best in the world.
A fourth leg adds only very marginally to stability. And not at all if making only 3 of them permits them to stick out further.
Go Spacex Go Elon. Spacex engineers are the best in the world.
No. Global Warming is a fraud and Musk Fluffers need to be repeatedly kicked in the gonads because of their rank imicility. Learn what a compound statement is. “I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.” Translation: Wasting my time because you’ll claim such support is invalid anyway.
No it isn’t. I was right about the SEC investigation..which you denied was happening.
No.Global Warming is a fraud and Musk Fluffers need to be repeatedly kicked in the gonads because of their rank imicility. Learn what a compound statement is. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.””Translation: Wasting my time because you’ll claim such support is invalid anyway.”””
No it isn’t. I was right about the SEC investigation..which you denied was happening.
No, you weren’t. You said it was happening before you had any excuse to think so, you were presenting your wish as being the the truth. You lied.
No you weren’t. You said it was happening before you had any excuse to think so you were presenting your wish as being the the truth. You lied.
ATTN Mr. Brian Wang: ” The BFS will use its entire body to break ” I hope it uses it to brake, specifically to aerobrake. Vuukle keeps on telling me I’ve said this before, but I’ve never clicked “Post” Vuukle is FUBAR, and SNAFU. WTF is up with NBF and comment systems?
ATTN Mr. Brian Wang: The BFS will use its entire body to break “”I hope it uses it to brake”” specifically to aerobrake.Vuukle keeps on telling me I’ve said this before”” but I’ve never clicked “”””Post””””Vuukle is FUBAR”””” and SNAFU.WTF is up with NBF and comment systems?”””
As Elon said in his presentation, the aerodynamics of the wings and fins are primarily designed for aero-breaking using drag and for making fine control adjustment between the drag generated on the rear 2 wings verses the front fins for control. The third rear wing will be on the lee-ward side during aero-breaking descent and serves no aerodynamic purpose, so is fixed and acts as the third leg and looks similar purely for symmetry. The desired aerodynamic characteristics is similar like a skydiver wearing wing-suit gliding and breaking to a land.
As Elon said in his presentation the aerodynamics of the wings and fins are primarily designed for aero-breaking using drag and for making fine control adjustment between the drag generated on the rear 2 wings verses the front fins for control. The third rear wing will be on the lee-ward side during aero-breaking descent and serves no aerodynamic purpose so is fixed and acts as the third leg and looks similar purely for symmetry. The desired aerodynamic characteristics is similar like a skydiver wearing wing-suit gliding and breaking to a land.
As Elon said in his presentation, the aerodynamics of the wings and fins are primarily designed for aero-breaking using drag and for making fine control adjustment between the drag generated on the rear 2 wings verses the front fins for control. The third rear wing will be on the lee-ward side during aero-breaking descent and serves no aerodynamic purpose, so is fixed and acts as the third leg and looks similar purely for symmetry. The desired aerodynamic characteristics is similar like a skydiver wearing wing-suit gliding and breaking to a land.
As Elon said in his presentation the aerodynamics of the wings and fins are primarily designed for aero-breaking using drag and for making fine control adjustment between the drag generated on the rear 2 wings verses the front fins for control. The third rear wing will be on the lee-ward side during aero-breaking descent and serves no aerodynamic purpose so is fixed and acts as the third leg and looks similar purely for symmetry. The desired aerodynamic characteristics is similar like a skydiver wearing wing-suit gliding and breaking to a land.
As Elon said in his presentation, the aerodynamics of the wings and fins are primarily designed for aero-breaking using drag and for making fine control adjustment between the drag generated on the rear 2 wings verses the front fins for control. The third rear wing will be on the lee-ward side during aero-breaking descent and serves no aerodynamic purpose, so is fixed and acts as the third leg and looks similar purely for symmetry.
The desired aerodynamic characteristics is similar like a skydiver wearing wing-suit gliding and breaking to a land.
ATTN Mr. Brian Wang: ” The BFS will use its entire body to break ” I hope it uses it to brake, specifically to aerobrake. Vuukle keeps on telling me I’ve said this before, but I’ve never clicked “Post” Vuukle is FUBAR, and SNAFU. WTF is up with NBF and comment systems?
ATTN Mr. Brian Wang: The BFS will use its entire body to break “”I hope it uses it to brake”” specifically to aerobrake.Vuukle keeps on telling me I’ve said this before”” but I’ve never clicked “”””Post””””Vuukle is FUBAR”””” and SNAFU.WTF is up with NBF and comment systems?”””
ATTN Mr. Brian Wang:
” The BFS will use its entire body to break ”
I hope it uses it to brake, specifically to aerobrake.
Vuukle keeps on telling me I’ve said this before, but I’ve never clicked “Post”
Vuukle is FUBAR, and SNAFU.
WTF is up with NBF and comment systems?
No, you weren’t. You said it was happening before you had any excuse to think so, you were presenting your wish as being the the truth. You lied.
No you weren’t. You said it was happening before you had any excuse to think so you were presenting your wish as being the the truth. You lied.
No. Global Warming is a fraud and Musk Fluffers need to be repeatedly kicked in the gonads because of their rank imicility. Learn what a compound statement is. “I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.” Translation: Wasting my time because you’ll claim such support is invalid anyway.
No.Global Warming is a fraud and Musk Fluffers need to be repeatedly kicked in the gonads because of their rank imicility. Learn what a compound statement is. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.””Translation: Wasting my time because you’ll claim such support is invalid anyway.”””
No it isn’t. I was right about the SEC investigation..which you denied was happening.
No it isn’t. I was right about the SEC investigation..which you denied was happening.
A fourth leg adds only very marginally to stability. And not at all if making only 3 of them permits them to stick out further.
A fourth leg adds only very marginally to stability. And not at all if making only 3 of them permits them to stick out further.
No, you weren’t. You said it was happening before you had any excuse to think so, you were presenting your wish as being the the truth. You lied.
Go Spacex, Go Elon. Spacex engineers are the best in the world.
Go Spacex Go Elon. Spacex engineers are the best in the world.
No.
Global Warming is a fraud and Musk Fluffers need to be repeatedly kicked in the gonads because of their rank imicility.
Learn what a compound statement is.
“I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.”
Translation: Wasting my time because you’ll claim such support is invalid anyway.
No it isn’t. I was right about the SEC investigation..which you denied was happening.
True to form as a right wing troll. Global warming is a fraud and Elon Musk is a con artist. Anything that the corporate oligopolies put in your mouth you then regurgitate without and of your own thought. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.
True to form as a right wing troll. Global warming is a fraud and Elon Musk is a con artist. Anything that the corporate oligopolies put in your mouth you then regurgitate without and of your own thought. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.
No you ain’t. In fact, it’s the first time you’ve been able to say there’s any investigation without lying. And its not the first time you’ve said it, liar.
No you ain’t. In fact it’s the first time you’ve been able to say there’s any investigation without lying.And its not the first time you’ve said it liar.
A fourth leg adds only very marginally to stability. And not at all if making only 3 of them permits them to stick out further.
That’s not just being fair, its p!ssing all over the Musk Fluffers of NBF! thanks for the support! 🙂
That’s not just being fair its p!ssing all over the Musk Fluffers of NBF! thanks for the support! 🙂
To be fair, if being scheduled within 1w proximity to the breaking of a negative story about something he owns or is involved with is evidence of it being a PR distraction, there wouldn’t be many weeks in the year Space X could make an announcement in the clear.
To be fair if being scheduled within 1w proximity to the breaking of a negative story about something he owns or is involved with is evidence of it being a PR distraction there wouldn’t be many weeks in the year Space X could make an announcement in the clear.
Go Spacex, Go Elon. Spacex engineers are the best in the world.
I suppose they know what they’re doing – but are 3 landing legs enough for stability? Especially if they land on a barge?
I suppose they know what they’re doing – but are 3 landing legs enough for stability? Especially if they land on a barge?
Maybe – but Musk made a point of saying that they aren’t at all intended to provide lift – just control. And a little added drag while decending tail-first might actually be a positive?
Maybe – but Musk made a point of saying that they aren’t at all intended to provide lift – just control. And a little added drag while decending tail-first might actually be a positive?
I knew this was a PR distraction. Now I’ve been proven right: Musk, Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk Statements Tesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators. Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had “funding secured” for the deal, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the company’s shares higher. bloom.bg/2D9F8mI Good day to be a short seller!
I knew this was a PR distraction. Now I’ve been proven right:Musk Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk StatementsTesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators.Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had “funding secured” for the deal said the people who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the company’s shares higher.bloom.bg/2D9F8mIGood day to be a short seller!”
True to form as a right wing troll. Global warming is a fraud and Elon Musk is a con artist. Anything that the corporate oligopolies put in your mouth you then regurgitate without and of your own thought. I am still waiting for a valid scientific source to support your Global Warming denial.
The new design looks kinda like a whale.
The new design looks kinda like a whale.
No you ain’t. In fact, it’s the first time you’ve been able to say there’s any investigation without lying.
And its not the first time you’ve said it, liar.
Yes, that makes sense. I forgot about the hop testing.
Yes that makes sense. I forgot about the hop testing.
I’d speculate that they’re going with sea-level engines for the hop testing, and then will switch to the vacuum version for use on top of a booster. The only real difference between them is the bell, right? You don’t really want to use vacuum engines at sea level too much, or so I understand. I thought that was the point of the mixed engine design, you’d have mostly vacuum engines, but a couple of sea level engines, too, and only use those for retro landings on Earth, since you’d be landing much lighter anyway. But they could go to the mixed approach when they implement the vacuum engines. It may be that development is lagging on the vacuum Raptors. Maybe they want to do space testing on them?
I’d speculate that they’re going with sea-level engines for the hop testing and then will switch to the vacuum version for use on top of a booster. The only real difference between them is the bell right?You don’t really want to use vacuum engines at sea level too much or so I understand.I thought that was the point of the mixed engine design you’d have mostly vacuum engines but a couple of sea level engines too and only use those for retro landings on Earth since you’d be landing much lighter anyway. But they could go to the mixed approach when they implement the vacuum engines.It may be that development is lagging on the vacuum Raptors. Maybe they want to do space testing on them?
Yes, I was assuming a landing. But at least you wouldn’t have to lower heavy items not used during the flight from near the top using a winch.
Yes I was assuming a landing. But at least you wouldn’t have to lower heavy items not used during the flight from near the top using a winch.
One more thing that stands out on the rendering is that the wings don’t look aerodynamic. The look like they have a rectangular-ish cross-section with a blunt rear edge. I’m guessing they’ll fix that in the production version?
One more thing that stands out on the rendering is that the wings don’t look aerodynamic. The look like they have a rectangular-ish cross-section with a blunt rear edge. I’m guessing they’ll fix that in the production version?
A drop-off probably still requires landing. If the engines are firing for a hover-drop, they could burn the dropped cargo.
A drop-off probably still requires landing. If the engines are firing for a hover-drop they could burn the dropped cargo.
Up until now, wikipedia /wiki/BFR_(rocket) said the BFS raptors had 375 s Isp, so 380 s would be a slight improvement. But now that wiki article states the Isp as 330 s, same as the booster. And it says the BFS raptors will be sea-level for now, with an option to upgrade to vacuum later. The BFS fires mostly above the separation altitude (except for landing), so why not go with vacuum from the start? Or at least something intermediate? Another thing that’s not clear in this new design, is how are they planning the refueling arrangement? The previous design had the fuel lines in the back, so it couldn’t use the engines while docked to a tanker. Would be interesting if the new design allows that.
Up until now wikipedia /wiki/BFR_(rocket) said the BFS raptors had 375 s Isp so 380 s would be a slight improvement. But now that wiki article states the Isp as 330 s same as the booster. And it says the BFS raptors will be sea-level for now with an option to upgrade to vacuum later. The BFS fires mostly above the separation altitude (except for landing) so why not go with vacuum from the start? Or at least something intermediate?Another thing that’s not clear in this new design is how are they planning the refueling arrangement? The previous design had the fuel lines in the back so it couldn’t use the engines while docked to a tanker. Would be interesting if the new design allows that.
I like the aft cargo provision. Makes it much easier to drop something off. And, glad to hear that he’s not going alone, that would have been such a waste. Maybe he’ll pick the Sailor Moon creator for one of his artists?
I like the aft cargo provision. Makes it much easier to drop something off. And glad to hear that he’s not going alone that would have been such a waste. Maybe he’ll pick the Sailor Moon creator for one of his artists?
The unmanned test flights could put lots of useful cargo into orbit, I’m thinking something cheap on earth, and really useful in orbit, like water ice, and frozen food. You could send up a fabric sphere, including a sunshade, and a small kicker motor, inflate it with low pressure gas, pump a load of water into it, let the ice freeze, and lift the orbit high enough to last for decades.
The unmanned test flights could put lots of useful cargo into orbit I’m thinking something cheap on earth and really useful in orbit like water ice and frozen food.You could send up a fabric sphere including a sunshade and a small kicker motor inflate it with low pressure gas pump a load of water into it let the ice freeze and lift the orbit high enough to last for decades.
That’s not just being fair, its p!ssing all over the Musk Fluffers of NBF!
thanks for the support! 🙂
To be fair, if being scheduled within 1w proximity to the breaking of a negative story about something he owns or is involved with is evidence of it being a PR distraction, there wouldn’t be many weeks in the year Space X could make an announcement in the clear.
I suppose they know what they’re doing – but are 3 landing legs enough for stability? Especially if they land on a barge?
Maybe – but Musk made a point of saying that they aren’t at all intended to provide lift – just control. And a little added drag while decending tail-first might actually be a positive?
I knew this was a PR distraction. Now I’ve been proven right:
Musk, Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk Statements
Tesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators.
Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had “funding secured” for the deal, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the company’s shares higher.
bloom.bg/2D9F8mI
Good day to be a short seller!
The new design looks kinda like a whale.
Yes, that makes sense. I forgot about the hop testing.
I’d speculate that they’re going with sea-level engines for the hop testing, and then will switch to the vacuum version for use on top of a booster. The only real difference between them is the bell, right?
You don’t really want to use vacuum engines at sea level too much, or so I understand.
I thought that was the point of the mixed engine design, you’d have mostly vacuum engines, but a couple of sea level engines, too, and only use those for retro landings on Earth, since you’d be landing much lighter anyway. But they could go to the mixed approach when they implement the vacuum engines.
It may be that development is lagging on the vacuum Raptors. Maybe they want to do space testing on them?
Yes, I was assuming a landing. But at least you wouldn’t have to lower heavy items not used during the flight from near the top using a winch.
One more thing that stands out on the rendering is that the wings don’t look aerodynamic. The look like they have a rectangular-ish cross-section with a blunt rear edge. I’m guessing they’ll fix that in the production version?
A drop-off probably still requires landing. If the engines are firing for a hover-drop, they could burn the dropped cargo.
Up until now, wikipedia /wiki/BFR_(rocket) said the BFS raptors had 375 s Isp, so 380 s would be a slight improvement. But now that wiki article states the Isp as 330 s, same as the booster. And it says the BFS raptors will be sea-level for now, with an option to upgrade to vacuum later. The BFS fires mostly above the separation altitude (except for landing), so why not go with vacuum from the start? Or at least something intermediate?
Another thing that’s not clear in this new design, is how are they planning the refueling arrangement? The previous design had the fuel lines in the back, so it couldn’t use the engines while docked to a tanker. Would be interesting if the new design allows that.
I like the aft cargo provision. Makes it much easier to drop something off. And, glad to hear that he’s not going alone, that would have been such a waste. Maybe he’ll pick the Sailor Moon creator for one of his artists?
The unmanned test flights could put lots of useful cargo into orbit, I’m thinking something cheap on earth, and really useful in orbit, like water ice, and frozen food.
You could send up a fabric sphere, including a sunshade, and a small kicker motor, inflate it with low pressure gas, pump a load of water into it, let the ice freeze, and lift the orbit high enough to last for decades.