Kayla - 4/2/2007 7:32 PMAtlas V's 12.5' diameter was driven by the need to air lift the long booster tank.
bombay - 5/2/2007 12:24 AMOn another thread, we briefly discussed what upperstage would be used in 2008 (maybe) for the GPSIIF satellites that are slated to fly on Atlas V or Delta IV as the transition from Delta II begins to occur (maybe).Centaur was mentioned as the upperstage candidate for Atlas V for obvious reasons though it seems to me that it would be a very costly option. What of the possibility of using the current Delta II 2nd and 3rd stages on Atlas V with a modified interstage adapter? Is that being considered? What am I missing in my thought process?
Launch Fan - 5/2/2007 11:47 AMDid a search on the net, but got a load of convolted stuff, so maybe a clear round up would be good.When did Lockheed Martin start launches on the Atlas? It's history started when? What was it initial purpose?
bombay - 4/2/2007 9:24 PMOn another thread, we briefly discussed what upperstage would be used in 2008 (maybe) for the GPSIIF satellites that are slated to fly on Atlas V or Delta IV as the transition from Delta II begins to occur (maybe).Centaur was mentioned as the upperstage candidate for Atlas V for obvious reasons though it seems to me that it would be a very costly option. What of the possibility of using the current Delta II 2nd and 3rd stages on Atlas V with a modified interstage adapter? Is that being considered? What am I missing in my thought process?
yinzer - 5/2/2007 2:53 PMSorry, I meant talk of flying two GPS birds on one rocket.
kevin-rf - 5/2/2007 3:20 PMSo an Atlas 552 with Wide Body Centuar would deliver how much to GTO? GEO? Would it outperform the Delta IV heavy to GTO? (Not to start a Delta vs. Atlas fight or anything?)I really wish they would publish those figures without muddying them with the Atlas V Heavy numbers.
kevin-rf - 5/2/2007 3:28 PMOkay to GTO, Atlas 552 with WBC is 12.9 mT. Delta Heavy is 13.1 mT. Close but Delta Heavy still has a slight 200 kg edge.
meiza - 5/2/2007 4:58 PMBack to Q&A.What is the Centaur like during transport and at integration and at the pad? Does the balloon tank design give headaches? Is it manpower intensive?
simonbp - 5/2/2007 4:34 PMWith ULA and the move to Decatur, will new tooling be built or the existing moved? Wouldn't this move be the best opportunity to build new tooling that could support a wider body Atlas V?Simon
Antares - 4/2/2007 7:15 PM2 things that haven't been mentioned:1) widening the body at a constant mass shortens the vehicle and gives a shorter engine moment arm for control.2) I think a structurally stable second stage is less likely since second stage mass has such a high exchange rate with payload mass.