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Wed, Jan 25, 2017

Musk Confirms Looming Retirement Of Current Variant Of Falcon 9

Will Shift To Block 5 Rockets And Falcon Heavy

The planned January 30 launch of a Falcon 9 rocket may be one of the last missions to utilize an expendable booster, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

Musk said in a Tweet recently that the company plans to move to the improved, reusable boosters, and eventually Block 5 Falcon 9 rockets, or the new Falcon Heavy going forward.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that a Twitter user asked Musk on Jan 21 if the Echostar launch would fly using an expendable rocket or  "try low-margin droneship landing."

Musk confirmed that it would be on a single-use rocket. "Future flights will go on Falcon Heavy or the upgraded Falcon 9,” Musk replied. “Block 5 is the final upgrade of the Falcon architecture. Significantly improves performance & ease of reusability. Flies end of year.”

Musk said that the production of the Block 5 Falcon 9 will begin in about three months, with the initial flight planned in six to eight months.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.spacex.com

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