Secular Café: SpaceX signs new contract to launch Satellite

Secular Café Serious discussion of science, skepticism, evolution, pseudoscience, and the paranormal

SpaceX signs new contract to launch Satellite May 30th 2012, 14:47 with the worlds most powerful rocket yet. Quote: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), which designs and launches rockets as well as spacecraft, said on Tuesday it signed the first commercial contract to launch the world's most powerful rocket. The Falcon Heavy rocket will launch a communications satellite into geosynchronous orbit (a circular orbit around the Earth nearly 24 hours long) for satellite services company Intelsat, according to a press release. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 'SpaceX is very proud to have the confidence of Intelsat.' - Elon Musk "SpaceX is very proud to have the confidence of Intelsat, a leader in the satellite communication services industry," said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and chief designer, in a statement. "The Falcon Heavy has more than twice the power of the next largest rocket in the world. With this new vehicle, SpaceX launch systems now cover the entire spectrum of the launch needs for commercial, civil and national security customers." Capable of lifting 117,000 pounds to low Earth orbit and over 26,000 pounds to geosynchronous orbit, the Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in the world, the company said. Intelsat, which operates the world's largest satellite fleet, praised the advanced vehicle, which they said provides them with expanded opportunities. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/...#ixzz1wMeqP5fD .... http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/...werful-rocket/ P.S. I have to believe the Saturn 5 (moon rocket) was more powerful, but I guess it is not currently in production..

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