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SpaceX dev timeline: 2 rockets > Saturn V (!)

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  • SpaceX dev timeline: 2 rockets > Saturn V (!)

    Certainly looks like they're serious about competing for the NASA heavy lifter contract as both Falcon 10 Heavy and Falcon 20 would exceed the performance of the venerated Saturn V. They're gonna hear those babies fire all the way to Virginia

    And it sure sounds like the Merlin 2 is a scaled up Merlin 1 rather than based in that Rocketdyne RS-84 engine tech (PDF) they licensed 2-3 years ago. Then there are the references in other materials to the need for a NERVA style nuclear Mars stage, electric rockets for tugs and a methane version of the Merlin 1. Explains why they're doubling the size of their test area in Texas.

    Also interesting is 2 F9 families - one with cores made up of 9 Merlin 1's and one with cores consisting of singe Merlin 2's. Wonder it there'll be a price difference.



    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 30 July 2010, 23:24.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps
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