Elon Musk and the U.S. military plan to build a reusable 7,500 MPF rocket that can deliver 80 tons of cargo with weapons anywhere in the world in 60 minutes
- SpaceX – and the aerospace firm XRC – have signed an agreement with U.S. forces
- A rocket can go from Florida to Afghanistan, for example, within an hour
- It currently takes about 15 hours to fly such a cargo plane
- SpaceX has landed recyclable rockets before, but never with the entire cargo payload.
- The first test demo of the policy is expected to begin next year
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has created a carrier rocket that can deliver weapons through space anywhere in the world in an hour.
The arrangement would allow the transfer from the Cape Canaveral, Florida, within 500 hours to the US-operated Bagram Airport in Afghanistan, about 500 miles away.
In contrast, a Boeing C-1 Glo Globemaster III – the owner of a 233-strong fleet of U.S. military transport aircraft, which can avoid a maximum of 590 MPF – can take up to 15 hours.
The rocket will be able to carry an 80-tonne payload like a single C-1 of – and the policy proof test is set to begin next year.
A cargo rocket that could deliver weapons and hardware anywhere in the world in an hour has created Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the U.S. military. Pictured, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches into orbit carrying communications satellites carrying payload
The system will allow a rocket (yellow) to be flown in one hour at the US-operated Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, 6552 miles from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the 15-hour journey at the moment takes -17 cargo aircraft (orange).
The collaboration – which will include Texas aerospace firm XRCO – was announced by General Stephen Lyons of the U.S. Transportation Command.
The first steps of the project will involve an assessment of the potential costs and challenges of delivering one-hour worldwide cargo.
At the conference, General Lyons said, “Think of the speed associated with it.”
‘I can tell you that SpaceX is moving very fast in this region. I’m really excited about the team working with SpaceX. “
SpaceX has previously demonstrated the ability to land vertically for drones overseas for its Falcon 9 system and reuse booster rockets.
However, the aerospace technology firm has never launched a full-packed rocket – and the new proposed rocket will carry four times the cargo.
Outside of speed, a major advantage of ferry military cargoes through rockets is – currently – no need to seek permission from foreign governments when flying over another country in orbit unlike
The U.S. military currently spends about ৮ 218 million on each C-117 cargo plane – it is unclear how this will compare to the cost of operations and rockets.
A Boeing C-1 Glo Globemaster III (pictured) – a military transport aircraft owned by a 233-strong U.S. fleet that can fly 590 miles per hour – takes 15 hours to fly from Florida to Afghanistan. SpaceX’s proposed cargo rocket can take off in an hour
The key to realizing rocket-based cargo carrying systems is the ability to ensure safe and accurate landings.
‘We send people safely into space, so sending cargo through orbit is not a problem. “The challenge is to bring it down,” Douglas Barry, an astronaut at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Times.
‘How will they bring it down by parachute or controlled descent? And can you be guaranteed to reach the right place? ‘
Mr Barrio questioned the cost and the same idea: “Usually you associate space-based delivery with intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
‘What will be the urge to send military cargo through space?’
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