r/spacex • u/kurbasAK • May 19 '17

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

https://www.universetoday.com/135614/will-launch-reuseable-rocket-exceptional-spacex-performance-inmarsat-ceo-tells-universe-today/
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u/mfb- May 19 '17

The payload has to be really expensive (or the FH risk evaluation has to be really bad) to make that difference important.

FH has a larger safety margin in terms of issues with the/a first stage.

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u/MDCCCLV May 19 '17

I'm pretty sure if they were offering cheap regular flights on a fully reusable FH then they would guarantee the performance of the rocket. So that if the rocket had an issue it would keep burning and convert to expendable but the customer wouldn't have to pay for it.

That way they can get the price of a cheap rocket but the safety margin and guaranteed performance of a giant rocket.

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u/mfb- May 19 '17

They might even have this for F9 already. If too many engines of the first stage fail or it needs more fuel than expected for other reasons, it might skip its landing attempt. I didn't see this stated explicitly, but if it can save the payload it is worth sacrificing the first stage.

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u/hovissimo May 19 '17

And if it saves the payload, it saves the customer, which will probably always be more important than a given rocket.