Space X Heavy Lift Vehicle Coming

Space X has unveiled plans for a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying a 53,000 kg payload into low earth orbit. The Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful launch vehicle in current use when it is complete. Capable of carrying almost twice the payload of the space shuttle (Soon to be extinct) into low earth orbit. And able to carry reasonably weighty payloads out past escape velocity.

The entry of commercial operators into the space flight business is a good step forward. And Space X is a good candidate with a proven record. They have shown that they can be reliable and flexible to the changing needs of this developing industry. They have also demonstrated a good ability to learn from past errors and failures. And make the required adjustments with remarkable speed and efficiency. Something government based agencies are notoriously bad at.

The commercialisation of space flight is certainly the right way to go. Space X has already proven that commercial space flight companies can be more flexible, more efficient and thus drastically reduce the costs. This is a really good thing. One of the biggest barriers to the space industry is the enormous cost of lifting payloads into orbit. We have the technology ready to go. But until we can reduce those costs down to a reasonable level. Space travel on the scale we desire will continue to elude us. The best way to reduce those costs is to on space travel to commercial competition. This model has been proven successful in almost every comparable environment (the airline industry is a good example). I think once the costs are reduced to a level where orbital space tourism becomes viable, we will really see the industry really taking off (Haha). Space hotel anyone?

If we want to continue to explore space (and I think that we do). And if we want to someday return to the Moon, and then travel on to Mars. We must encourage the commercial space industry to continue to grow. And the best way to do this is for government based space agencies to contract with these companies to provide launch vehicle capacity. At least until space tourism is viable business.