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WSJ’s SpaceX Story Raises Many Alarm Bells, But Few Are Based in Fact
By John Bonazzo • 06/04/18
Observer
Things may look bleak for SpaceX, but Elon Musk isn’t beaten yet.
The space transportation company told The Wall Street Journal this weekend that it won’t launch a pair of space tourists into orbit this year, as it had previously promised. There’s now no exact timeline for when the tourist mission will occur (though the Journal initially claimed it would happen in summer 2019).
“SpaceX is still planning to fly private individuals on a trip around the moon, and there is growing interest from many customers,” SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson told Observer. “Private spaceflight missions, including a trip around the moon, present an opportunity for humans to return to deep space and to travel faster and farther into the solar system than any before them, which is of course an important milestone as we work toward our ultimate goal to help make humanity multi-planetary.”
Musk had announced with great fanfare in February 2017 that SpaceX would send two paying customers around the moon and back again aboard the Falcon Heavy. The tourists were never identified, but reportedly paid a large deposit.
This delay seemingly points to bigger issues at SpaceX—and the Journal framed it as such by spotlighting the company’s history of missed deadlines.
SpaceX expects to launch between 25 and 30 missions this year—it’s completed 11 thus far, with the most recent one going into orbit this morning.
But after 2018, prospects seemingly look much bleaker. SpaceX projects that it will launch 40 percent fewer missions next year.
Some of this is expected: SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC there had been a “slight slowdown” in satellite orders for 2019 (such orders must be made two years in advance).
But the Journal goes further, claiming there is much less demand for SpaceX’s largest rockets than the company predicted.
The Falcon Heavy, SpaceX’s biggest rocket launcher, went on its maiden voyage in February. Analysts thought the craft, which has five million pounds of thrust, could upend the space industry.
But according to the Journal, the smaller Falcon 9 rocket is capable of putting most existing satellites into orbit on its own. The price of the Falcon 9 has also decreased of late.
As such, the Journal includes a claim from space entrepreneur Charles Miller that there was “no commercial need” for the Falcon Heavy at this time.
One look at the SpaceX website proves this isn’t true, however. There are at least four Falcon Heavy missions listed on the company’s current launch manifest (which is frequently updated).
Furthermore, Miller is a former vice president of international communications at Boeing—which coincidentally is one of SpaceX’s main competitors. So it makes sense that he would cast doubt on Musk’s efforts.
SpaceX certainly has many challenges ahead on the road to interstellar dominance. But when media outlets manufacture fake issues out of thin air, that just makes the company’s job harder.
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As I said elsewhere, I think they will be writing off the FH9. Musk has virtually said it himself, so it's hardly news. The BFR can potentially serve all roles: Mars, orbital tourism, lunar tourism (inc. lunar base), ISS supply, creating the orbital internet, Earth-to-Earth transport, and satellite launches. NASA will have to approve a BFR role re ISS though I have read as it's a pretty large vehicle to have up that close.
All that matters at this stage is cash flow. I don't doubt there are huge profits to be made within 5 years - once you can move beyond satellite launches and ISS supply into the era of space tourism.
WSJ’s SpaceX Story Raises Many Alarm Bells, But Few Are Based in Fact
By John Bonazzo • 06/04/18
ObserverThings may look bleak for SpaceX, but Elon Musk isn’t beaten yet.
The space transportation company told The Wall Street Journal this weekend that it won’t launch a pair of space tourists into orbit this year, as it had previously promised. There’s now no exact timeline for when the tourist mission will occur (though the Journal initially claimed it would happen in summer 2019).
“SpaceX is still planning to fly private individuals on a trip around the moon, and there is growing interest from many customers,” SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson told Observer. “Private spaceflight missions, including a trip around the moon, present an opportunity for humans to return to deep space and to travel faster and farther into the solar system than any before them, which is of course an important milestone as we work toward our ultimate goal to help make humanity multi-planetary.”
Musk had announced with great fanfare in February 2017 that SpaceX would send two paying customers around the moon and back again aboard the Falcon Heavy. The tourists were never identified, but reportedly paid a large deposit.
This delay seemingly points to bigger issues at SpaceX—and the Journal framed it as such by spotlighting the company’s history of missed deadlines.
SpaceX expects to launch between 25 and 30 missions this year—it’s completed 11 thus far, with the most recent one going into orbit this morning.
But after 2018, prospects seemingly look much bleaker. SpaceX projects that it will launch 40 percent fewer missions next year.
Some of this is expected: SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC there had been a “slight slowdown” in satellite orders for 2019 (such orders must be made two years in advance).
But the Journal goes further, claiming there is much less demand for SpaceX’s largest rockets than the company predicted.
The Falcon Heavy, SpaceX’s biggest rocket launcher, went on its maiden voyage in February. Analysts thought the craft, which has five million pounds of thrust, could upend the space industry.
But according to the Journal, the smaller Falcon 9 rocket is capable of putting most existing satellites into orbit on its own. The price of the Falcon 9 has also decreased of late.
As such, the Journal includes a claim from space entrepreneur Charles Miller that there was “no commercial need” for the Falcon Heavy at this time.
One look at the SpaceX website proves this isn’t true, however. There are at least four Falcon Heavy missions listed on the company’s current launch manifest (which is frequently updated).
Furthermore, Miller is a former vice president of international communications at Boeing—which coincidentally is one of SpaceX’s main competitors. So it makes sense that he would cast doubt on Musk’s efforts.
SpaceX certainly has many challenges ahead on the road to interstellar dominance. But when media outlets manufacture fake issues out of thin air, that just makes the company’s job harder.
Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com
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