Countdown to SpaceX Mars announcement: LIVE

[Legend]

Basically SpaceX wants to send humans to Mars in 2024 and for many years they have been hinting at their plans to make it a reality. This September they are finally announcing their architecture.

I'm making this thread a bit early since lots of little tidbits seem to be slipping out.


SpaceX will be bringing people to Mars using the Big Falcon Rocket and the Mars Colonial Transporter. This rocket combo will reportedly be able to lift 236 tons to low Earth orbit and land 100 tons on the martian surface. This will be by far the largest and strongest rocket ever built.

http://vizioneck.com/forum/index.php?topic=4235.0

[Raven]

Basically SpaceX wants to send humans to Mars in 2024 and for many years they have been hinting at their plans to make it a reality. This September they are finally announcing their architecture.

I'm making this thread a bit early since lots of little tidbits seem to be slipping out.


SpaceX will be bringing people to Mars using the Big Falcon Rocket and the Mars Colonial Transporter. This rocket combo will reportedly be able to lift 236 tons to low Earth orbit and land 100 tons on the martian surface. This will be by far the largest and strongest rocket ever built.

Would it not be a better idea to wait and work with Lockheed and NASA on the Mars orbital station first and then immediately after start landing people and supplies on the surface? I can't help but feel like having that in place first would be incredibly beneficial in case one or the other goes very wrong.

[Legend]

Would it not be a better idea to wait and work with Lockheed and NASA on the Mars orbital station first and then immediately after start landing people and supplies on the surface? I can't help but feel like having that in place first would be incredibly beneficial in case one or the other goes very wrong.

SpaceX is working with NASA (and probably Lockheed) on this. SpaceX's 2018 mission to Mars is getting $30 million in funding+technical assistance from NASA for example.

Plus the orbital station from Lockheed is not guaranteed to happen. That's still 13 years away and space projects have a tendency to be delayed/canceled. I think it makes more sense for SpaceX to focus on making Mars cargo cheap asap. Delay the actual human launch as needed, but make Mars accessible.

[Legend]

"Mars Colonization Transport : rumors before the official announcement" - Association Planètes mars (the french Martian society). Article in French, resume in the comments. : spacex

Talks about 110 meters tall, 31 engines on the first stage, 15 meter first stage diameter, 12.5 meter second stage/mct diameter, etc.

[DD_Bwest]

holy shame that thing would be fudgy huge..

[Legend]

T-2 months until Elon breaks the internet by revealing the world's largest ever rocket system (and by some margin).  #WeCannotWait

— Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) July 27, 2016

Just 60 days to go

[DD_Bwest]

i cant wait to see the size of this thing lol  than for the tread i was wondering when it was happening.

so how much stronger than the saturn v do you think? lol

[Legend]

i cant wait to see the size of this thing lol  than for the tread i was wondering when it was happening.

so how much stronger than the saturn v do you think? lol

13.4 meter diameter

Saturn did ~140 to leo. This is ~240.

[DD_Bwest]

13.4 meter diameter

Saturn did ~140 to leo. This is ~240.

this thing it gonna be huge. i cant wait to see it launch

[Dr. Pezus]

#Elon4President

[Raven]

#Elon4President

Seriously. If I was gay, I'd throw myself at him. Hell, I'll probably do it anyways.

[Legend]

Two weeks to go.

Big question is if the announcement will be gutted after the rocket explosion.

"Hey guys here's our rocket that will send 100 people to mars at a time. Better hope we don't blow this one up."

[DD_Bwest]

Two weeks to go.

Big question is if the announcement will be gutted after the rocket explosion.

"Hey guys here's our rocket that will send 100 people to mars at a time. Better hope we don't blow this one up."

i dont think they'll gut it.  they need to show confidence

[Legend]

Turns out MCT can go well beyond Mars, so will need a new name…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2016

Guess the show is still on!

[DD_Bwest]

Turns out MCT can go well beyond Mars, so will need a new name…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2016

Guess the show is still on!

hahaha i cant wait to see this thing. gonna be huge!