Turns out that this launch has set another spaceflight record: this is the first ever launch worldwide of a geostationary orbit bound satellite on a two-stage only rocket
Yes, and Tsiolkovsky equations show us it isn't the most optimal solution. The rocket would have more potential to GSO if "cut" in 3 stages.
without the use of a liquid hydrogen powered stage.
Wasn't the Proton family of Block-D/DM (LOX/RP-1 or LOX/Synthin) ever used to put a satellite in GSO ? It surprises me...
I'd love for one day for a Falcon 9 to have a BEO/interplanetary mission with NASA.
It would ruin the point of it. SpaceX is supposed to be a
private and
commercial company. There isn't going to be
commercial needs for BEO/interplanetary for a looong time... Or maybe if the Chinese build a moonbace in 2020 and ask SpaceX to supply them... I have my doubts... :hmm:
The best SpaceX can do (and it was why it was funded at the beginning) is to relieve NASA of the LEO operational costs (ISS or other
future stations), letting the
national agency focus on science and exploration of space, which was its first goal, (and that is still actively carried through unmanned probes).