Sure you did. You got to vote. That's how these things work.After going to the Astrobotic site, I see most things have not changed. USAF requirement, NASA launch facility - it's all there. As a taxpayer, I had no input.
Sure you did. You got to vote. That's how these things work.After going to the Astrobotic site, I see most things have not changed. USAF requirement, NASA launch facility - it's all there. As a taxpayer, I had no input.
Don't be dumber than you have to be mate. NASA and the Pentagon take their orders from politicians, you vote for the politicians.Vote? On this? No. The military and NASA take the money and do what they want. The Pentagon doesn't call me for my input either. The US citizen is totally disconnected from 'commercial space.'
Don't be dumber than you have to be mate. NASA and the Pentagon take their orders from politicians, you vote for the politicians.Vote? On this? No. The military and NASA take the money and do what they want. The Pentagon doesn't call me for my input either. The US citizen is totally disconnected from 'commercial space.'
No shit you don't get a direct say in how your country is run. You live in a Federal Republic, not a Direct Democracy.
Mob rule is a terrible system by which to run a country.
*Edited a typo.
After going to the Astrobotic site, I see most things have not changed. USAF requirement, NASA launch facility - it's all there. As a taxpayer, I had no input.
He's the kind of guy who thinks that since he pays taxes he must have a direct say in each government project that strikes his fancy. That should tell you everything you need to know.After going to the Astrobotic site, I see most things have not changed. USAF requirement, NASA launch facility - it's all there. As a taxpayer, I had no input.
What the heck are you talking about? What USAF requirement? Astrobotic has nothing to do with the USAF. Also, there is no NASA launch facility involved.
We’ve updated the Payload Fairings of the World infog to include Vulcan. More whales...
We’ve updated the Payload Fairings of the World infog to include Vulcan. More whales...
SpaceX had to develop their own from just general industry knowledge, and it was originally sized for earlier blocs of F9. Going huge right away would have been more difficult and expensive, at a time when they needed the money and effort elsewhere. The money they've put into fairing development has gone into developing reuse instead of stretching or increasing diameter, and their long-term hope for large payloads is Starship anyway.
We’ve updated the Payload Fairings of the World infog to include Vulcan. More whales...
Why did SpaceX go with such a small fairing when both the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy have large fairings?
Why did SpaceX go with such a small fairing when both the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy have large fairings?
Why did SpaceX go with such a small fairing when both the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy have large fairings?
ULA's fairings on the other hand come from 2 established producers. Atlas uses fairings produced by RUAG, who've made fairings for Arianespace for decades, and Boeing has built their aluminum fairings forever. So acquiring larger fairings for their rockets was essentially just as easy as putting the right money in the right place. SpaceX has reportedly made attempts to buy the Atlas V-size RUAG fairings off the shelf but has run into issues closing the deal.
The @blueorigin #BE4 engine for #VulcanCentaur arrived at our Decatur, AL factory. ULA’s next-gen rocket is on track for launch in 2021! #CountdowntoVulcan
New fairing for #AtlasV is stepping stone to #VulcanCentaur.
Read more in our blog about the Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) fairings that will be used on upcoming Atlas V launches to accumulate flight experience before use on Vulcan Centaur
New fairing for Atlas V is stepping stone to Vulcan Centaur
www.ulalaunch.com
The first GEM63 solid rocket boosters (SRB) are in the house! These powerful SRBs will first fly on #AtlasV and then will be upgraded for #VulcanCentaur.
Read more in our blog:
New solid motors coming to Atlas in evolution to Vulcan Centaur
www.ulalaunch.com
Tri-core Vulcan.
The future of space is coming together. #VulcanCentaur pad modifications are nearing completion at SLC-41 ahead of first flight in 2021! #CountdownToVulcan. Moon or bust!
GEM63xl solid rocket static test. Vulcan can use up to 6 of these. They produce around 1/2 million pounds thrust each. According to Wikipedia, Vulcan prices range from $82M (no solids) to $200M (six solids). That makes the unit price around $20M give or take.
I was wondering how Vulcan compares to the Delta IV Heavy the last of the Delta rocket family in terms of payload carrying capability? Would there be a future Heavy lift variant of the Vulcan to replace the Delta IV Heavy?
I was wondering how Vulcan compares to the Delta IV Heavy the last of the Delta rocket family in terms of payload carrying capability? Would there be a future Heavy lift variant of the Vulcan to replace the Delta IV Heavy?
Vulcan heavy is close to Delta IV heavy in terms of pounds to LEO/GEO. I thought I saw a $350M price tag for Delta IV heavy at one time. And then Spacex showed up and ULA cut the price down to "just" $300M (apparently by cutting labor costs). At one time ULA was highlighting a new upper stage that could be left parked in orbit and refueled but they have done no work on it for a long time (just like the detachable engine pod). I really wonder if ULA has a business plan if Spacex/Blue Origin succeed because they are not showing any of the necessary R&D needed to do so.
There's more to this than cost. Everybody focuses on the cost of the launches and misses the issue of capabilities. Falcon 9 still lacks capabilities that ULA's rockets have, which are necessary for some payloads.