[R0CK3T]

If recoverable they will spend more to re-unspect and validate hardware and components than it would cost to build a new vehicle and there would always be some elevated level of uncertainty that they captured everything.

Also, how would people feel about launching a billion dollar satellite or humans up the space station on hardware the had been thru the violent the event of a launch, recovery, re-inspection and rebuild?

I like the idea but these are expendable rockets.

Now if he had a fully capable single stage to orbit that was re-usable then yes that would be disruptive technology and change everything.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

"Also, how would people feel about launching a billion dollar satellite or humans up the space station on hardware the had been thru the violent the event of a launch, recovery, re-inspection and rebuild?" And how would people feel about reboarding a $100M airliner that had been subject to the torture of hundreds of takeoffs and landings plus the occasional thunderstorm and icing? The difference is only in the elements causing the stresses to the system. TC

[PreciousLiberty]

“If recoverable they will spend more to re-unspect and validate hardware and components than it would cost to build a new vehicle and there would always be some elevated level of uncertainty that they captured everything.”

Entirely incorrect, or they wouldn’t be taking this approach. The entire point is to lower costs - a lot.

“Also, how would people feel about launching a billion dollar satellite or humans up the space station on hardware the had been thru the violent the event of a launch, recovery, re-inspection and rebuild?”

At first, there will be trepidation. Once a track record is established, people will know the risks.

“I like the idea but these are expendable rockets.”

No, they will be reusable first stages.

“Now if he had a fully capable single stage to orbit that was re-usable then yes that would be disruptive technology and change everything.”

SSTO is much more difficult, plus it is inherently less efficient since you’re orbiting a lot more mass for the same payload. Also, the entire vehicle has to endure a full-speed reentry from orbit - unlike the first stage that SpaceX will recover.

It will still be impressive, the version being tested today will hit a maximum speed of about 7,000 MPH, or Mach 10. That’s less than half of full orbital velocity, though.

The “Falcon Heavy” auxiliary boosters will only hit about half the velocity of these “Falcon 9 1.1” rockets, so they’re even better candidates for this kind of reuse.