Classification: UK OFFICIAL
Handling Instruction: DISCLAIMER - this is a personal e-mail and only
represents the views of the sender
----------------
Elon Musk's comments on testing BFR's upper stage and SSTO capability are at ~
21:20 point of his post FH launch press conference (I haven't found a
transcript anywhere). See YouTube video here
https://youtu.be/QxVNYdVBgpY?t=21m9s
Summary:
Hopper testing next year either in south Texas or ship to ship.
It is "capable of SSTO is you fully load the tanks"
According to Aviation Week, the BFR upper stage (aka 'spaceship') stats are:
Length: 48 m
Diameter: 9m
Dry mass: 85 t
Propellant mass: 1100 t
Max ascent payload: 150 t [I assume this is as part of a 2-stage rocket?]
Typical return payload: 50 t [ditto]
Alex Aplin
"This e-mail and any attachment(s) is intended for the recipient only. Its
unauthorised use,
disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted. Communications with Dstl are
monitored and/or
recorded for system efficiency and other lawful purposes, including business
intelligence, business
metrics and training. Any views or opinions expressed in this e-mail do not
necessarily reflect Dstl policy."
"If you are not the intended recipient, please remove it from your system and
notify the author of
the email and centralenq@xxxxxxxxxxx"