Quote from: Star One on 08/22/2012 07:26 pmWhat sort of work would be involved and on what timescale should it be desirous to man-rate the D4H in the near future and will the introduction of the RS-68A assist in achieving this in a timely fashion should it be needed?There is not direct work ongoing to human rate the DIV. However, Both Atlas and Delta are going to "common avionics", a ULA funded upgrade which is the baseline for commercial crew. Common avionics is designed to be human rated and have accomodations for the EDS. EDS is being designed to accomodate DIV.In addition, the DIV upperstage, as the iCPS for SLS, will be human rated. With all that in place, the driver for human rating DIV would be access and egress at the pad.Not sure the RS68A has any bearing one way or the other.
What sort of work would be involved and on what timescale should it be desirous to man-rate the D4H in the near future and will the introduction of the RS-68A assist in achieving this in a timely fashion should it be needed?
Do you think non-government market for human launch services set to grow significantly and when? Commercial space stations? Asteroid mining? Moon mining? Orbital Space tourism? Space based Solar Power construction? etc?
What would be your preference for the Exploration Roadmap? Such as are you interested in the Exploration Platform concept. Would you prefer to go back to the Moon first?
Thanks for the Q&A opportunity!What challenges do you foresee with fixed price (or fixed term) contracts in keeping vehicle costs down (to maintain profitability) with the materials market spikes we have seen in the past (before the market collapse)?
Quote from: RocketmanUS on 08/22/2012 05:55 pmWith the possibility of running out of RD-180's and being replace by a new American made engine(s) will the Atlas first stage be upgraded to a 5 meter core and still be human rated ( Atlas phase II or similar )?That being with the stumpy version for light payloads, regular length with up to 6 SRB's, and with the possibility to upgrade to the 70mt triple core.Not sure where the notion that RD-180 supply is limited is coming from, but it's not true.The idea of a 5m Lox/RP booster (the old Atlas phase II) is still a very attractive growth option: Atlas fuels and engines on a Delta booster tank. It continues to live on our advanced planning drawing board, waiting for an opportunity.
With the possibility of running out of RD-180's and being replace by a new American made engine(s) will the Atlas first stage be upgraded to a 5 meter core and still be human rated ( Atlas phase II or similar )?That being with the stumpy version for light payloads, regular length with up to 6 SRB's, and with the possibility to upgrade to the 70mt triple core.
However, Both Atlas and Delta are going to "common avionics", a ULA funded upgrade which is the baseline for commercial crew. Common avionics is designed to be human rated and have accomodations for the EDS. EDS is being designed to accomodate DIV.
ULA launch vehicles are seen as expensive compared to SpaceX.Does ULA plan to compete on price?
What future business opportunities are available for ULA to get launch rates up?
Quote from: spectre9 on 08/23/2012 12:37 amULA launch vehicles are seen as expensive compared to SpaceX.Does ULA plan to compete on price? but ULA's customers want to see a track record of success, repeatably delivering complex payloads to orbit, safely and on time.
How far along is ULA on EELV line consolidation, how much of the LV standardization is internally funded and what items need external funding?ULA seems to be quite active recently with funding or supporting emerging space companies (ie work with XCOR Aerospace,Masten Space Systems) How does ULA balance new and emerging technologies/suppliers versus the need for technical conservatism in launch contracts, and how would the ramp up process work for new suppliers?Speaking of which, how will the United Technologies Corporation acquisition of Rocketdyne effect ULA both in present subsystems and future evolution?Finally and getting back to human launch services, when would we expect to see new infrastructure construction for commercial crew (ie contract not time, like CCiCAp phase one ect) Will the spacecraft builders, ULA, or a combination of both pick the infrastructure needed?
If you were to book a flight to orbit today, would you rather ride on Atlas V + CST-100, Atlas V + Dreamchaser, or Delta IV-H + Orion?
Right now we are launching EELV's at our highest rate ever. 11 last year (2011) and 11 more this year.
I would be fascinated as to what you think of SLS's current design, such as the Shuttle Derived elements and thoughts on the booster preference.
Would there be any merit in a future merger between the newly merged Aerojet + Rocketdyne and ULA?
How is the development of the Delta Common Booster Core coming along?
Quote from: georgesowers on 08/23/2012 08:01 pm However, if the end customer is other than the USG, the sale is through either BA or LM.So, that is why ULA is working directly with BA and SNC for commercial crew vs LM?
However, if the end customer is other than the USG, the sale is through either BA or LM.
First, thank you for the reply.Limited supply was for how many RD-180's are in the U.S. as I have read , more would have to be made in Russia or an American production line from what I understand. From what I have read the RD-180 can not be used to launch certain military payload, the other reason I'm looking at an American made engine. So if that is true about certain military payloads, American made engine is needed. However if the Atlas is not needed to launch those types of military payloads and can be made in America then it will be a great engine for AVP2 as it has been for Atlas V. And being able to keep the RD-180 for AVP2 would make it easier to get it ready for crew vehicles?
Quote from: georgesowers on 08/23/2012 08:42 pmHowever, Both Atlas and Delta are going to "common avionics", a ULA funded upgrade which is the baseline for commercial crew. Common avionics is designed to be human rated and have accomodations for the EDS. EDS is being designed to accomodate DIV.How does this affect the overall philosophy of "dissimilar redundancy" for the purpose of providing continuous assured access?