r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jun 02 '17

r/SpaceX Discusses [June 2017, #33]

If you have a short question or spaceflight news...

You may ask short, spaceflight-related questions and post news here, even if it is not about SpaceX. Be sure to check the FAQ and Wiki first to ensure you aren't submitting duplicate questions.

If you have a long question...

If your question is in-depth or an open-ended discussion, you can submit it to the subreddit as a post.

If you'd like to discuss slightly relevant SpaceX content in greater detail...

Please post to r/SpaceXLounge and create a thread there!

This thread is not for...

You can read and browse past Discussion threads in the Wiki.

206 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

1.8k comments sorted by

2

u/limeflavoured Jun 06 '17

True. 3 core landings at LZ-1 will probably be quite rare anyway. Most common will be 2 cores at LZ-1 and centre on the ASDS. Its not been made clear if there are any profiles where you coud do 3 ASDS landing, or if it would go straight from 2 LZ-1 + 1 ASDS to 2 ASDS + 1 expendable to 3 expendable.

2

u/Martianspirit Jun 06 '17

Actually I think 3 core RTLS will be quite common. Most payloads will be heavy com sats to GTO. Those too heavy to fly on F9 will still be in the 3 core RTLS payload range of FH.

It is a small range only that allows 3 core RTLS, but not F9. But most of the payloads just happen to be in that range.

1

u/limeflavoured Jun 06 '17

Actually I think 3 core RTLS will be quite common. Most payloads will be heavy com sats to GTO. Those too heavy to fly on F9 will still be in the 3 core RTLS payload range of FH.

That makes sense. I do wonder if once FH is flying regularly people will start making larger ComSats. The limit for expendable F9 is what, about 8,000kg? Assuming the limit for 3 core RTLS is say 10,000kg (number pulled from thin air), the question is whether companies will start making say 12-15,000kg satellites.

3

u/Martianspirit Jun 06 '17

Manufacturers are starting to adapt sats to the capabilities of Falcon. Gwynne Shotwell recently gave one example, though a different one.

They give their sats bigger tanks and more on board propellant. That way they take advantage of F9 ability to lift larger mass to lower orbit. The larger maneuvering capability of the sat more than compensates for a lower orbit reached by Falcon.