Another tricky aspect is the large number of rocket engines. A Falcon 9 booster has nine of SpaceX’s Merlin engines, each putting out 190,000 pounds of thrust. Going big in an era of rockets on a dietSome wonder how much business exists for a rocket as big as the Heavy. With advances in electronics and miniaturization, satellites have been getting smaller, and the trend among rocket start-ups — has been toward smaller and smaller rockets. Charles Miller, a former NASA official who served in the Trump administration’s transition team, thinks the agency should consider turning to cheaper, commercial alternatives like the Falcon Heavy.

Source: New York Times January 22, 2018 18:22 UTC