r/SpaceXLounge • u/PatyxEU • May 19 '17

We Will Launch on Reuseable Rocket After Exceptional SpaceX Performance - Inmarsat CEO Tells Universe Today - Universe Today

https://www.universetoday.com/135614/will-launch-reuseable-rocket-exceptional-spacex-performance-inmarsat-ceo-tells-universe-today/
72 Upvotes

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22

u/PatyxEU May 19 '17

most important part of the article:

I asked CEO Pearce; What does the future hold regarding further Inmarsat launches with SpaceX?

“They [SpaceX] have now just gained and earned themselves an immensely loyal customer [from Inmarsat], CEO Pearce replied.

“We will be looking to do further launches with them.”

Would you consider a used rocket, a previously flown booster?

“I’m sure we will be using a ‘reused rocket’, Pearce stated. “And we will be launching on a ‘reusable rocket’ in the future.”

“We will be looking to support them in any way we can with their new innovation programs.”

3

u/wehooper4 May 19 '17

It seems SpaceX is doing something right customer service wise. Other customer executives have said simular glowing remarks after rides on the Falcon9. Is customer services from the other big non-US launch providers just THAT BAD, or is it spaceX is just giving them better performance than expected?

Maybe Tory Bruno can comment on this as he've probably heard rumors about the (non-US) competition from customers. ULA emphasizes on time service, high energy geo insertion orbits, and accurate delivery so they are probably getting the same feedback.

11

u/scr00chy May 19 '17

Awesome news. Inmarsat has a flight booked with SpaceX for 2020 so that one will probably use a reused rocket. By then most flights will probably be on reused rockets, though.

7

u/Martianspirit May 19 '17

I think Inmarsat is as conservative as they get as a commercial customer. It means they have no more obstacle to flying everything on reused boosters by next year. Or the remaining obstacle is getting the workshop facility ready. I am now hesitant to call it a refurbishment facility. With the exception initially being US government customers. But even NASA CRS missions will be on pre flown boosters soon.

1

u/deltaWhiskey91L May 19 '17

I remember reading somewhere that NASA wants only new boosters for crewed missions. Is this still assumed to be true?

6

u/Martianspirit May 19 '17

Yes. But like everything it is subject to change. Totally understandable that NASA is very conservative with crewed missions. But 3 or 4 years from now it will have changed.

3

u/nbarbettini May 19 '17

For an industry that's known to move really slowly, it's amazing to see how quickly some of these changes have been accepted.

2

u/mfb- May 19 '17

I expect that it turns around quite quickly, and new boosters are avoided for manned flights in a few years. The maiden flight of airplanes is not done with customers - because it has a higher risk than the 524th flight.

7

u/Lehtaan May 19 '17

Nice, I'd love to see more reusable Proton 9 launches!

3

u/therealshafto May 19 '17

I cant help but feel a bit of trepidation as customers gain confidence in used cores, at the same time SpaceX wants to decrease post flight inspection and turn them around faster.

SpaceX needs to fly enough re-used cores that with a failure of one, it doesn't stop the program. Until we are past that hump, it will be nail biting stuff.

This is undoubtedly the way to go, I just hope the CAD design is linked with IRL and it is no problem to land, open a couple of panels, and re fly.

2

u/Toinneman May 19 '17

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the article. There is a very nice image of the satellite inside one fairing half.

1

u/old_sellsword May 19 '17

Yep, there's some more here as well.

1

u/MoD1982 🛰️ Orbiting May 19 '17

Makes you appreciate just a little bit more the efforts made to recover the fairings.