Well, let's get this board started...

[robotical]

Hello? Anyone here? Helloooo???<br /><br />Anyway, given that it took 30 million dollars to a private vehicle into space how much do you think it will take to go orbital? Will companies be able to recoup the investment? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[robotical]

Most reports I've seen say between $20 and 30 million. However, the exact cost of Tier One really isn't important to the question.<br /><br /><i>It would cost hundereds of millions.</i><br /><br />Which begs the question of whether or not companies will see it as worthwhile to do so. I doubt they will anytime soon unless another, much larger, X-Prize is offered <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[robotical]

Alright!<br /><br />As I've said, the exact cost really does not matter insofar as the topic is concerned. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

I think what Rutan has done is about 10% of what it would take to get to orbit, in the amount of energy needed and systems and structures to do the job. <br /><br />That's still pretty close to what Shuttle is going to cost in today money by the time it's ready to start launching again.<br /><br />The difference is that's for every Shuttle launch, not to develop the entire system. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rxke]

If you see their plans for the new space initiative, they only go for ELV or EELV, guess they feel too badly bruised...<br /><br />BTW: what's the projected cost for FalconV? That's supposed to be man-rated, orbital and at least partially reusable...

 

[scottb50]

Why not turn the Shuttle over to a commercial operator? If nothing else it would encourage further refinement of the basic concept and provide the commercial base to allow developing the next generation. <br /><br />The Shuttle is not the ideal commercial vehicle, but it would save development costs, maybe reducing some of its capability would add to it's utility. Instead of taking 7 people for two weeks take 15 people to an orbital facility. The abilities of the Shuttle would also speed up development of commercial platforms, nothing else available can carry so much, weight and size wise, imto orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

That's what it cost NASA at their current flight rate. That also bears little resemblence to what it could be done for commercially. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"BTW: what's the projected cost for FalconV? That's supposed to be <b>man-rated</b>..."</font><br /><br />Where have you seen that the V was supposed to be man-rated?

 

[nacnud]

This article [aviation week] mentioned it, last but one paragraph.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>In addition to the existing Falcon I and V features, Musk said SpaceX has "a long-term interest" in making the Falcon V upper stage and the first stage recoverable. He has also held formal discussions with NASA about using later versions for manned missions such as to the International Space Station. With that in mind, the avionics and other parameters of the Falcon V will be man-rated from the beginning, Musk said.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />

 

[mrmorris]

<br />Interesting. I wouldn't have thought that the V would have enough payload capacity to make it worthwhile to man-rate. I haven't looked at any numbers for it -- guess I ought to.<br />

 

[vividasday]

<p>Cut - Paste. Capitol...Great Title</p><p>3.2.1.all of us have tha potential to revive a systom.&nbsp; Let a lone whole Universe!</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>