SpaceX going all in on Mars rocket: 2022 first landing

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"Big Falcon Rocket" 2.0 is a more lean version of what was shown last year, but is still capable of delivering similar payloads to the Martian surface.

31 main stage engines, 6 second stage engines, 9 meter diameter and 106 meters tall. 150 tons to leo while being fully reusable.


The rocket is being privately funded by SpaceX without outside help. This is possible because the new BFR is designed to replace all Falcon and Dragon activities.




A stockpile of Falcons and Dragons will be manufactured, and then all development will switch over to BFR. The first BFR is predicted to start development in 6-9 months. Additionally since the BFR is so massive, it can ship to the Moon if any company wants to pay for cargo transport.




Mars is still the priority and these other tasks are just ways to fund that. The BFR has 40 passenger cabins which can fit 2-3 people comfortably. First human landing is set for 2024 with two cargo landings and two human landings. This is the same date SpaceX has said for three years now so it's awesome it hasn't slipped yet.



One nice addition is "engine out capability" when landing. The BFR has two landing engines and at any moment during landing if one shuts down, the other can increase thrust and pick up the slack.

My personal thoughts?

It's incredibly risky. SpaceX is currently dominating the launch industry and they're putting billions of dollars on the line by shutting down Falcon. If BFR can't act as a proper replacement, SpaceX would essentially have to start all over again as underdogs or close shop.

Additionally the new BFR feels far too similar to the Space Shuttle. It's very possible that BFR will technically be able to do everything as envisioned but have severe drawbacks while doing so.

But if SpaceX makes BFR as planned, it'll be the biggest shakeup in space ever. Other companies are just now finally making plans to compete with the Falcon 9, while SpaceX is making the Falcon obsolete. No one except potentially Blue Origin will be able to have a competitive product. Other launchers will only stay in business because governments/satellite companies don't want to rely on a single launcher. DSG would look hilariously small if it still happens and SLS would become a backup rocket.

[Legend]

CEO of ULA giving his impressions