SpaceX still targeting 2019 BFR hop testing of upper stage

SpaceX COO and President Gwynne Shotwell confirmed that SpaceX is still targeting integrated BFR tests in 2019, in the form of hops with the next-gen rocket’s upper stage (known as BFS). Shotwell said this at a Future of Space conference at a DARPA event.

The SpaceX raptor will be about two times as powerful as the Block 5 Merlin 1D engines that power SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Heavy rockets. The Raptor will generate 1700 kN (~380,000 lbf) of thrust. The current Merlin 1D’s current ~850 kN (~190,000 lbf) thrust rating.

30 thoughts on “SpaceX still targeting 2019 BFR hop testing of upper stage”

  1. The good part is that Gwynne Shotwell’s dates usually aren’t in Elon’s time. Looking forward to see this bird fly.

  2. The good part is that Gwynne Shotwell’s dates usually aren’t in Elon’s time.Looking forward to see this bird fly.

  3. Perhaps this comment will post, where the other apparently will not. The 2019 projected time was “Elon time”.

  4. Perhaps this comment will post where the other apparently will not.The 2019 projected time was Elon time””.”””

  5. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. That being said, I’m all for setting ambitious targets. Most organizations aim so low, that it isn’t a surprise that they execute on schedule. Although in the aerospace biz Space X is not alone in having timelines slip. Space X has been very public about what they aim to achieve and they’ve been able deliver eventually.

  6. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. That being said I’m all for setting ambitious targets. Most organizations aim so low that it isn’t a surprise that they execute on schedule. Although in the aerospace biz Space X is not alone in having timelines slip. Space X has been very public about what they aim to achieve and they’ve been able deliver eventually.

  7. Delivering eventually … while redesigning, recovering, reflying & redesigning again! It’s beyond belief, given the pace of progress post ’69.

  8. Delivering eventually … while redesigning recovering reflying & redesigning again! It’s beyond belief given the pace of progress post ’69.

  9. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. ” And that was said by you for no point at all. Really none whatsoever. I am sick to death of people criticizing Musk in even mild implied ways for not meeting insanely fast targets, exactly because he does hit very, very aggressive ones. It is as if no one cares to remember he explicitly has stated he uses very short time frames as a management tool, to force everyone involved to account for every delay. There is no slack in any schedule.

  10. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. “”And that was said by you for no point at all. Really none whatsoever.I am sick to death of people criticizing Musk in even mild implied ways for not meeting insanely fast targets”” exactly because he does hit very very aggressive ones.It is as if no one cares to remember he explicitly has stated he uses very short time frames as a management tool”” to force everyone involved to account for every delay. There is no slack in any schedule.”””

  11. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. ” And that was said by you for no point at all. Really none whatsoever. I am sick to death of people criticizing Musk in even mild implied ways for not meeting insanely fast targets, exactly because he does hit very, very aggressive ones. It is as if no one cares to remember he explicitly has stated he uses very short time frames as a management tool, to force everyone involved to account for every delay. There is no slack in any schedule.

  12. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. “”And that was said by you for no point at all. Really none whatsoever.I am sick to death of people criticizing Musk in even mild implied ways for not meeting insanely fast targets”” exactly because he does hit very very aggressive ones.It is as if no one cares to remember he explicitly has stated he uses very short time frames as a management tool”” to force everyone involved to account for every delay. There is no slack in any schedule.”””

  13. Delivering eventually … while redesigning, recovering, reflying & redesigning again! It’s beyond belief, given the pace of progress post ’69.

  14. Delivering eventually … while redesigning recovering reflying & redesigning again! It’s beyond belief given the pace of progress post ’69.

  15. ” Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. ”

    And that was said by you for no point at all. Really none whatsoever.

    I am sick to death of people criticizing Musk in even mild implied ways for not meeting insanely fast targets, exactly because he does hit very, very aggressive ones.

    It is as if no one cares to remember he explicitly has stated he uses very short time frames as a management tool, to force everyone involved to account for every delay. There is no slack in any schedule.

  16. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. That being said, I’m all for setting ambitious targets. Most organizations aim so low, that it isn’t a surprise that they execute on schedule. Although in the aerospace biz Space X is not alone in having timelines slip. Space X has been very public about what they aim to achieve and they’ve been able deliver eventually.

  17. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target. That being said I’m all for setting ambitious targets. Most organizations aim so low that it isn’t a surprise that they execute on schedule. Although in the aerospace biz Space X is not alone in having timelines slip. Space X has been very public about what they aim to achieve and they’ve been able deliver eventually.

  18. Perhaps this comment will post, where the other apparently will not. The 2019 projected time was “Elon time”.

  19. Perhaps this comment will post where the other apparently will not.The 2019 projected time was Elon time””.”””

  20. Just a few months ago it was supposed to be first half of 2019 so it is a bit of a missed target.

    That being said, I’m all for setting ambitious targets. Most organizations aim so low, that it isn’t a surprise that they execute on schedule. Although in the aerospace biz Space X is not alone in having timelines slip. Space X has been very public about what they aim to achieve and they’ve been able deliver eventually.

  21. The good part is that Gwynne Shotwell’s dates usually aren’t in Elon’s time. Looking forward to see this bird fly.

  22. The good part is that Gwynne Shotwell’s dates usually aren’t in Elon’s time.Looking forward to see this bird fly.

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