(no subject)
I was reading the Bad Astronomy Blog's article about SpaceX's Dragon capsule drop test, which went off beautifully. Then I started wandering around on their website - and found that they're SERIOUS about becoming COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf). In clear, simple to understand language, they list *LAUNCH* prices, for Falcon Ie, Falcon 9, and Falcon 9Heavy. They didn't list a price for loading and outfitting the Dragon capsule for flight, but it can't be that much... and the Dragon capsule is due to be rated for 7 people.
Now, a smaller Drake capsule could probably be built, perhaps something that could fly on a Falcon 1e, or a Falcon 3 (since they're using the same engines! for each system, just ganging more together). The Falcon 1e launches for circular orbit, 187 miles up is... US$10M. Figure in a like amount for a recovery capsule of US$ 10M or so, and guess what - you have the same price Dennis Tito payed for his flight to the ISS. Except with this one - you're not sharing it with Russians, you're sharing it with your chosen companion. Seriously, though - I doubt you could fit more than one person launched on a Falcon I, which only has a launch capacity of 1 metric ton, and re-entry shield and air is going to take up most of that weight, I'm sure - which I why I mentioned the Falcon 3.
However, the Falcon 9 is already in the pipeline, and it similarly has a listed launch price - US$50M. Again - the Dragon capsule is rated for 7 people, and I would expect you could fit it for launch and mission for $20M. Hey! That works out to only US$10M per person! And the Dragon capsule is in-orbit maneuverable! HOLY COW! That's half the price of previous launching! And this isn't Virgin Galactic's 15 mins in free fall, which does have it's place (it's only US$200K, much much more affordable for the merely rich, as opposed to the "Money? Oh, yeah, that stuff I use for toilet paper" rich. Still, economy of scale always drives prices down, so maybe once Bigelow Aerospace gets done putting up Budget Space Suites, we'll be able to take space honeymoons for US$ 5-10M a trip. Now, that's something to look forward to!
This really is a game-changer. These aren't prices quoted for GE or Verizon by Boeing, hidden behind NDAs. This is something that, at least in theory, ANY private individual could walk in the office of SpaceX with a large briefcase, and plunk down cash money for. And hey, if the Feds try to screw it up with crazy laws - we can always just buy some south Pacific or Caribbean island in fee-simple and move there, assuming we don't accept an offer from some other country to pay us to move there saying "Look at what those DC idiots gave up!"
Now, a smaller Drake capsule could probably be built, perhaps something that could fly on a Falcon 1e, or a Falcon 3 (since they're using the same engines! for each system, just ganging more together). The Falcon 1e launches for circular orbit, 187 miles up is... US$10M. Figure in a like amount for a recovery capsule of US$ 10M or so, and guess what - you have the same price Dennis Tito payed for his flight to the ISS. Except with this one - you're not sharing it with Russians, you're sharing it with your chosen companion. Seriously, though - I doubt you could fit more than one person launched on a Falcon I, which only has a launch capacity of 1 metric ton, and re-entry shield and air is going to take up most of that weight, I'm sure - which I why I mentioned the Falcon 3.
However, the Falcon 9 is already in the pipeline, and it similarly has a listed launch price - US$50M. Again - the Dragon capsule is rated for 7 people, and I would expect you could fit it for launch and mission for $20M. Hey! That works out to only US$10M per person! And the Dragon capsule is in-orbit maneuverable! HOLY COW! That's half the price of previous launching! And this isn't Virgin Galactic's 15 mins in free fall, which does have it's place (it's only US$200K, much much more affordable for the merely rich, as opposed to the "Money? Oh, yeah, that stuff I use for toilet paper" rich. Still, economy of scale always drives prices down, so maybe once Bigelow Aerospace gets done putting up Budget Space Suites, we'll be able to take space honeymoons for US$ 5-10M a trip. Now, that's something to look forward to!
This really is a game-changer. These aren't prices quoted for GE or Verizon by Boeing, hidden behind NDAs. This is something that, at least in theory, ANY private individual could walk in the office of SpaceX with a large briefcase, and plunk down cash money for. And hey, if the Feds try to screw it up with crazy laws - we can always just buy some south Pacific or Caribbean island in fee-simple and move there, assuming we don't accept an offer from some other country to pay us to move there saying "Look at what those DC idiots gave up!"