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Virgin Space

May 09, 2008, 03:41:42 PM

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Topic: Virgin Space (Read 972 times)

Toby

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Posts: 5

Virgin Space

« on: January 28, 2008, 12:02:50 PM »

Hi,

Has anyone been following the developments of Virgin to develop a cheap, re-usable space rocket that will lower the cost (and risk) of getting into space?

See the following link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7205445.stm

Given that the major impediment to the LiftPort is that it is financially unviable when being lifted with a NASA shuttle has anyone considered re-running the cost calculations using the estimates from Virgin? I would be interested in this as a small research topic if anyone is interested.

We may find that the pre-cursor technology required is closer at hand than we may realise.

Regards,

Toby


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A_M_Swallow

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Posts: 739

Re: Virgin Space

« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2008, 08:43:59 AM »

Take care when using the prices on SpaceX's website. The Falcon_1s will probably end up costing $12 million each with about the same again for launch and management costs.

p.s. Virgin Galactic's Space Ship 2 does not actually go into orbit.

The two craft advertised can be used as 2/3 of a LEO cargo launcher. Two and a half million dollars to lift 100Kg into orbit = $25,000/kg is still expensive.