For an EELV engine, the AR-1 will have to fly enough times to prove its reliability. The Atlas V will have to be redesigned, and flown a number of times to prove the reliability of the redesigned Atlas.
Quote from: quanthasaquality on 06/27/2014 05:25 am For an EELV engine, the AR-1 will have to fly enough times to prove its reliability. The Atlas V will have to be redesigned, and flown a number of times to prove the reliability of the redesigned Atlas. Not necessarily true
For an SLS booster, the Merlin 1D will win on cost ....
The Atlas V will have to be redesigned, and flown a number of times to prove the reliability of the redesigned Atlas. The Delta IV is proven, why bother with a new and untested rocket?
Quote from: Jim on 06/27/2014 01:29 pmQuote from: quanthasaquality on 06/27/2014 05:25 am For an EELV engine, the AR-1 will have to fly enough times to prove its reliability. The Atlas V will have to be redesigned, and flown a number of times to prove the reliability of the redesigned Atlas. Not necessarily trueULA is currently seeking designs. (So, we can't assume AR-1 is given.)It would seem logical to me that if I were going to go to the trouble of designing a new engine to replace a current design I'd be shooting for a bolt in replacement for my proven work horse -as much as possible. Atlas V is a fine bird, and well understood. Jim may have said something like this if he had time...and I'd agree with him!
Thanks Space Ghost for the links.I doubt RD 180 recovery method would be economical. To be competitive ULA will need to recover the complete booster.
Try here:http://ula.lonebuffalo.com/story.cfm?story_id=7426059As for recovery:http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Published_Papers/Evolution/EELVPartialReusable2010.pdf
As for the competition (which actually doesn't have enough rocket to handle all Atlas 5 missions yet), it has been having a long spring and summer trying to launch one brand new rocket. Imagine if it were trying to launch a previously flown, reentered rocket.
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Interesting.The double configuration is obviously a good move, as there's not really a potential customer for just one engine. I wonder if it would have a common turbo pump making it a single, dual-chamber engine? Or still two individual engines, just in a duplex mount?
AR1 at a GlanceAll-American design and productionAdvanced oxygen-rich staged combustion kerosene technology500,000 lbf thrust (sea level)Propellants: Liquid-oxygen (Lox)/Kerosene (RP-1)Configured to accommodate multiple applicationsFast-paced and affordable developmentAdvanced low-cost manufacturing techniques