Falcon Heavy STP-2 mission - Delayed - Now 2019

[ecarfan]

NET June. No date yet. But an interesting story came out yesterday. See Rideshare mission for U.S. military confirmed as second Falcon Heavy launch – Spaceflight Now

Quote: “More than two dozen satellites from the U.S. military, NASA and research institutions will ride into orbit on SpaceX’s second Falcon Heavy rocket launch, a mission currently scheduled for liftoff in June, a military spokesperson said... Known as the Space Test Program-2, or STP-2, mission, the Falcon Heavy launch will launch with 25 spacecraft inside its nose cone, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center.“

It’s like carpooling, but in space.

Lots of interesting info in that article.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Holy crap! That’s a lot of satellites for a barely tested launch vehicle!

 

[ecarfan]

Agreed. It seems that those who are entrusting their payload to the second FH mission have a lot of confidence in SpaceX. Confidence which, in my opinion, is not misplaced.

 

[PeterK]

25 satellites in one launch ought to bring per-satellite costs way down. Amazing.

 

[ecarfan]

India launched 104 satellites with one rocket, but they were pretty small sats; “nanosats” and the total payload weight was a mere 3,040 lbs. India Launches Record-Breaking 104 Satellites on Single Rocket

So not competition for the FH with a max LEO payload of 140,700 lbs.

 

[e-FTW]

So, no humans to launch on FH. The tourist moon orbit is shelved.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Agreed. It seems that those who are entrusting their payload to the second FH mission have a lot of confidence in SpaceX. Confidence which, in my opinion, is not misplaced.

It's military. When military stuff explodes they just buy more.

 

[Bobfitz1]

So, no humans to launch on FH. The tourist moon orbit is shelved.

I thought the tourist moon ride was 'planned' for after all the crew capsule tests and likely after NASA formally approves Dragon 2 for manned missions to ISS. What's your source for it being shelved?

 

[PeterK]

I thought the tourist moon ride was 'planned' for after all the crew capsule tests and likely after NASA formally approves Dragon 2 for manned missions to ISS. What's your source for it being shelved?

Elon was quoted as saying they would focus FH on cargo and shift the capsule work to the BFR, rather than do the extra effort of certifying both rockets for human flight. Or something to that effect.

 

[scaesare]

I thought the tourist moon ride was 'planned' for after all the crew capsule tests and likely after NASA formally approves Dragon 2 for manned missions to ISS. What's your source for it being shelved?

From that Falcon Heavy article that @ecarfan posted:

"Musk said there are no plans to fly people on Falcon Heavy rockets. SpaceX is working in an even bigger rocket for humans, the Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR, that the company claims could begin orbital test flights in the early 2020s.

A plan to send two-person team of tourists on a flight around the moon and back to Earth on a Falcon Heavy rocket has been shelved for now, he said."

 

[Bobfitz1]

From that Falcon Heavy article that @ecarfan posted:
"Musk said there are no plans to fly people on Falcon Heavy rockets. SpaceX is working in an even bigger rocket for humans, the Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR, that the company claims could begin orbital test flights in the early 2020s.
A plan to send two-person team of tourists on a flight around the moon and back to Earth on a Falcon Heavy rocket has been shelved for now, he said."

Thanks @scaesare. I guess there are two disappointed multi millionaires around somewhere!
In my dopey opinion (IMDO), I'd still like to see SpaceX set a prescedent they can launch non astronauts they select without NASA being in the loop, sooner rather than later.

 

[scaesare]

Thanks @scaesare. I guess there are two disappointed multi millionaires around somewhere!
In my dopey opinion (IMDO), I'd still like to see SpaceX set a prescedent they can launch non astronauts they select without NASA being in the loop, sooner rather than later.

I'm kind of with you... I think it would be positive inspirational step if nothing else...

 

[Grendal]

Thanks @scaesare. I guess there are two disappointed multi millionaires around somewhere!
In my dopey opinion (IMDO), I'd still like to see SpaceX set a prescedent they can launch non astronauts they select without NASA being in the loop, sooner rather than later.

I also agree. With D2 certified and F9 certified for astronauts, it shouldn't be so hard to certify FH. The safety system built into D2 should work equally well for both.

SpaceX should not have to jump through a bunch of bureaucratic hoops.

 

[bxr140]

Holy crap! That’s a lot of satellites for a barely tested launch vehicle!

It’s not uncommon for a new (or sometimes even a return-to-flight) launcher to carry a bunch of free or near-free rides. Especially when it comes to university-sats, a lot of the value is in the design phase. Launching is just a cherry on top.

Posting a large quantity of spacecraft on the record wall (admittedly, 26 isn’t that large anymore, as previously noted...) is a low expense win for spacex.

 

[bxr140]

25 satellites in one launch ought to bring per-satellite costs way down. Amazing.

No doubt these rides are cheap or even free. There’s no cost recovery opportunity for spacex on this launch.

 

[Sparky]

Getting indications this is NET Oct 30. Very busy launch manifest.

 

[Sparky]

Getting indications this is NET Oct 30. Very busy launch manifest.

Nov 30 is what I hear the most now.

 

[Electroman]

It is in that mission that Bill Nye and his team are sending a micro satellite, who size that fits in a suitcase and has solar sails that spreads like an accordion. Apparently these are not the ones that generate electricity but uses the solar wind to generate momentum and accelerates very gently but almost infinitely as long as it gets the solar wind.

 

[ecarfan]

Yep. See LightSail

 

[e-FTW]

Yep. See LightSail

Now that is exciting!
The big shove from Heavy will allow it to have a meaningful mission, which Lightsail 1 could not do with the Atlas V launch.